In this modern age of information technology, professions related to technology advancements such as software engineers and developers are essential for the evolution and growth required by different technologies to make our lives easier and much more productive.
These people are responsible for the many examples of software that influence our lives somehow, from business to social needs and from health to leisure, so much technology has now become integral to our daily lives.
Software engineers create software that we use for personal or business purposes, such as the Windows software on our laptops and the Android software on our smartphones.
They are responsible for designing, researching, evaluating, and maintaining software applications we use in our everyday lives. Without software engineers, our increasingly computer-based society wouldn’t advance.
Software engineers are vital and very much in demand, for obvious reasons. Now, we’re going to learn more about how to become a software engineer in Canada.
Software Engineer Educational Requirements
There are specific requirements for the level of education a person must achieve before becoming a software engineer. You must have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer systems engineering, or mathematics awarded by a university or college.
Alternatively, completion of a college program in computer science will suffice. Some can also pursue a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in a related field.
Licensing and Other Professional Requirements
Software engineers are classified as regulated professions in Canada. Thus, they must be registered to their respective regulatory authorities before practicing the trade and using the title “software engineer.”
A license approved by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required before they can approve engineering drawings and reports. They will then be called Professional Engineers.
Engineers who graduated from an accredited educational program, who have three or four years of work experience in engineering (should be supervised), and pass a professional practice examination are automatically eligible for registration.
Skills, Knowledge, and Other Requirements for Software Engineering
Software engineers must be skilled with certain skill sets that can help them perform their duties well. A required skill includes experience as a computer programmer. They should be good computer programmers before becoming a software engineer.
Also, they must be able to develop data, process, and network models to optimize the architecture of the designs and use this to evaluate the performance and reliability of the designs. They should also collect and document the users’ requirements to develop logical and physical specifications.
They should assess and troubleshoot maintenance procedures for the operating systems, applications software, and communication environments. Lastly, they plan, design, and coordinate the computer-based systems, from development, installation, integration, and operation.
It is important to be very knowledgeable in subjects and topics, directly and indirectly, related to their profession. These topics include computer and information systems, design, engineering and technology, public safety and security, mathematics, and science. Essentially, they should be very skilled in debugging and reprogramming some technical systems and installing and setting up technical infrastructure.
Software Engineer Salary, Wages, and Demands For Employment
A software engineer is one of the highest earners of all professions in Canada. They might not be in the top ten list of highly paid jobs in Canada, but they still earn quite a decent salary. Software engineers working in Canada make up to $45.67 an hour, but some can earn more — up to $67.31 an hour. You can find the recorded national hourly average for software engineers in Canada on the Canadian Job Bank.
Ontario based software engineers reach the $67.31 per hour average salary, making them the highest-earning software engineers in the country. On the other hand, software engineers working in Manitoba can earn as little as $13.46 an hour, the lowest in the country.
Software engineers are in high demand in Canada nowadays thanks to the many businesses and software developers working in the country.
There is always rapid innovation and dynamic changes. Because of that, software engineers will always be in demand. In addition, there are many new technologies that can help businesses and individuals to grow. These include artificial intelligence, Blockchain, and 3D printing.
Also, due to the massive changes happening, Canadian businesses are always compelled to adapt quickly and upgrade their respective IT infrastructure to remain competitive. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that software engineers will continue to be in high demand in Canada.
