National Occupational Classification (NOC): 21311
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Computer hardware engineer
- Fibre-optic network designer
- Hardware circuit board designer
- Hardware development engineer
- Network infrastructure engineer
- Network support engineer
- Network test engineer
- Telecommunications hardware engineer
- Wireless communications network engineer
What do computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) do?
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) research, plan, design, develop, modify, evaluate and integrate computer and telecommunications hardware and related equipment, and information and communication system networks including mainframe systems, local and wide area networks, fibre-optic networks, wireless communication networks, intranets, the Internet and other data communications systems. They are employed by computer and telecommunication hardware manufacturers, by engineering, manufacturing and telecommunications firms, in information technology consulting firms, by governmental, educational and research institutions and in information technology units throughout the private and public sectors.
Computer and telecommunications hardware engineers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Analyze user requirements, and design and develop system architecture and specifications.
- Research, design, develop and integrate computer and telecommunications hardware such as microprocessors, integrated circuit boards and semiconductor lasers.
- Develop and conduct design verification simulations and prototype bench tests of components.
- Supervise, inspect and provide design support during the manufacturing, installation and implementation of computer and telecommunications hardware.
- Establish and maintain relationships with suppliers and clients.
- May lead and coordinate teams of engineers, technologists, technicians and drafters in the design and development of computer and telecommunications hardware.
Network system and data communication engineers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Research, design and develop information and communication system network architecture.
- Research, evaluate and integrate network system and data communication hardware and software.
- Assess, document and optimize the capacity and performance of information and communication system networks.
- May lead and coordinate teams of design professionals in the development and integration of information and communication system architecture, hardware and software.
Additional information
- Computer engineers may specialize in a number of areas including analog and digital signal processing, fibre optics, integrated circuits, lasers, microprocessors, microwaves and radio astronomy.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 541 Professional, scientific and technical services
- 517 Telecommunications
- 221 Utilities
- 417 Machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
Source: 2021 Census, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation due to low levels of employment in the province.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) belong to the broader occupational group 21311, 21231 (Computer and software engineers). This group is forecast to be tightening (rating of 2.5 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning new labour supply will be required to meet anticipated job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 85 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 64% | Western: 12% |
| Eastern: 4% | Labrador: 14% |
| Central: 7% | NL-unspecified: 0% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year).
Who works as computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 95 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 84% of those employed were Male+ and 11% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 11% | 68% | 21% | 0% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
How much do computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) in the reference year 2020 (95 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $93,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.06 | $46.55 | $64.42 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $30.00 | $46.63 | $66.67 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Systems Engineering
- Automation
- Feasibility Studies
- Programmable Logic Controllers
- Distributed Control Systems
- Project Scoping
- Process Engineering
- Systems Development Life Cycle
- Responsive Teaching
- Computer Science
What training is required?
- Computer engineers require a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical or electronics engineering, engineering physics or computer science.
- A master’s or doctoral degree in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.