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Computer Engineers (Except Software Engineers and Designers) (2147)

Occupation related to information and communications technology

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec

The English text is currently unavailable. Please refer to the French text below.

Qualification and skills most often required

Un baccalauréat en génie informatique, électrique ou électronique ou en génie physique est exigé des ingénieurs informaticiens et ingénieures informaticiennes. Une maîtrise ou un doctorat dans une discipline connexe du génie peuvent être exigés. L’adhésion à l’Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec est obligatoire pour porter le titre et exercer la profession d’ingénieur. Les compétences exigées portent, entre autres, sur l’informatique industrielle (robotique, intelligence artificielle), le multimédia (jeux vidéo), la bio-informatique, les microprocesseurs, les télécommunications, la sécurité informatique, la télématique et la réseautique (exploitation et entretien des réseaux). Les employeurs recherchent des candidats ou des candidates qui maîtrisent les aspects techniques, les langages informatiques, les systèmes d’exploitation et des logiciels spécialisés. Les certifications Cisco et Microsoft sont fréquemment demandées. La capacité d’adaptation, un esprit logique, des habiletés en communication, la résistance au stress et la capacité de concevoir du matériel et des systèmes sont recherchés. Une expérience de deux ans ou plus dans le secteur des technologies de l’information et des communications est généralement demandée. Le bilinguisme est nécessaire.

Reason for labor demand

La reprise des investissements en produits et services informatiques et la croissance dans le domaine des applications informatiques et des télécommunications créent un contexte favorable à l’emploi dans cette profession. Les entreprises connaissent certaines difficultés à recruter des ingénieures informaticiennes et ingénieurs informaticiens expérimentés en raison, entre autres, d’une baisse notable du nombre de personnes diplômées des programmes informatiques dans la dernière décennie.

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Job titles

  • application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design engineer
  • capacity planner, network
  • capacity planning analyst
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Nature of work

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.

Fields of interest

  • Crunching numbers
  • Working with computers, information technology, and communications
  • Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

  • Computer and telecommunications hardware engineers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Analyze user's 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 co-ordinate 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 co-ordinate teams of design professionals in the development and integration of information and communication system architecture, hardware and software.
  • * 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.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * 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.
  • * Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.

Skill type

  • Natural and applied sciences and related fields

Skill level

  • Professional

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Professional associations