Description
Software engineers and designers research, design, evaluate, integrate and maintain software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses and telecommunications software. They are employed in information technology consulting firms, information technology research and development firms, and information technology units throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed.
Job Titles
- Application architect
- Cloud infrastructure engineer
- Cloud operations engineer
- Computer software engineer
- Embedded software engineer
- Mobile development lead
- Site reliability engineer
- Software and information technology project manager
- Software architect
- Software design engineer
- Software design project manager
- Software design verification engineer
- Software designer
- Software project manager
- Software systems integration engineer
- Software technical architect
- Software testing engineer
- Telecommunications software engineer
Main Duties
- Collect and document users’ requirements and develop logical and physical specifications
- Research, evaluate and synthesize technical information to design, develop and test computer-based systems including mobile applications
- Develop data, process and network models to optimize architecture and to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs
- Plan, design and coordinate the development, installation, integration and operation of computer-based systems including mobile applications
- Assess, test, troubleshoot, document, upgrade and develop maintenance procedures for operating systems, communications environments and applications software
- May lead and coordinate teams of information systems professionals in the development of software and integrated information systems, process control software and other embedded software control systems.
Workplaces
- Information technology consulting firms
- Information technology departments in the private and public sectors
- Information technology research and development firms
- Self-employed
Skills
- Digital Literacy
- Digital Production
- Evaluation
- Troubleshooting
- Critical Thinking
Abilities
- Categorization Flexibility
- Fluency of Ideas
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
Personal Attributes
- Analytical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Innovativeness
- Active Learning
- Adaptability
Similar Occupations
- Computer and information systems managers (20012)
- Information systems specialists (21222)
- Database analysts and data administrators (21223)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (21230)
- Software developers and programmers (21232)
- Web developers and programmers (21234)
- Web designers (21233)
- Electrical and electronics engineers (21310)
- Information systems testing technicians (22222)
- Computer engineer (in 21311.01 Computer and telecommunications hardware engineers)
Source: OaSIS
Employment Outlook
The employment outlook will be Moderate for software engineers and designers (NOC 21231) in Prince Edward Island for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
- Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
- Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
- There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
The prospect for employment in this occupation is expected to be favorable due to the rapid growth in digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. These professionals design, evaluate, and maintain software systems for industries ranging from finance and healthcare to gaming and telecommunications. There is some overlap with related roles such as developers and programmers, and highly skilled engineers often transition between these positions.
Individuals pursuing this career should focus on mastering programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C++), understanding software architecture, and building collaborative and problem-solving skills. Certifications in cloud platforms, cybersecurity, or agile development can further enhance employability in this fast-evolving field.
Here are some key facts about Software engineers and designers in Prince Edward Island:
- Approximately 100 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
- Software engineers and designers mainly work in the following sectors:
- Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 56%
- Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 13%
- Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 8%
- Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 8%
- Other manufacturing (NAICS 313-316, 323-324, 326-327, 331, 334-335, 337, 339): 6%
- 75% of software engineers and designers work all year, while 25% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 49 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
- 10% of software engineers and designers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
- The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
- Men: 80% compared to 51% for all occupations
- Women: 20% compared to 49% for all occupations
- The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
- no high school diploma: n/a
- high school diploma or equivalent: 18% compared to 28% for all occupations
- apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
- college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 18% compared to 25% for all occupations
- bachelor’s degree: 36% compared to 17% for all occupations
- university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 14% compared to 8% for all occupations
Source: Job Bank
Prevailing Wages
| AREA | LOW | MEDIAN | HIGH |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEI | $28.88 | $41.69 | $78.48 |
| Canada | $35.00 | $56.49 | $91.35 |
Training
There are no known training programs for this occupation in PEI. If you are aware of a local training program, please contact us.
There are currently no job listings for this occupation on WorkPEI.