Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker Program is the country’s main immigration program for skilled workers. Reopened for the year 2014, the program is intended for skilled professionals who are economically capable of establishing themselves. Later, these professionals can apply for Canadian Residency.

These applicants can qualify on the basis of their education, work experience, knowledge of English or French, age and arranged job. The news is that the profession for Software Engineers and Designers is one of the 50 occupations recently announced by the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

The Maple Leaf Country has seen an increase in the number of Software Engineers and Designers over the past few years. This increase is the result of rapid growth of the computer industry, in terms of both the number of users and scope. In coming years, their number is expected to increase sharply, and the job opportunity will mainly come from positions vacated by Engineers and Designers who had either been promoted to higher positions, or have retired.

Work Profile

Software Engineers NOC 2173, work in a variety of industries ensuring the proper functioning, development and adjustment of software. These professionals design research, evaluate, integrate and maintain software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses, and telecommunications software. They are mainly employed in Information Technology (IT) consulting firms, IT research and development firms, and IT units. They may also be self-employed with the private and public sectors.

Key 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.
• Develop data, process and network models to optimize architecture and to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs.
• Plan, design and co-ordinate the development, installation, integration and operation of computer-based systems.
• Assess, test, troubleshoot, document, upgrade and develop maintenance procedures for operating systems, communications environments and applications software.
• They may lead and co-ordinate teams of information systems professionals in the development of software and integrated information systems, process control software and other embedded software control systems.

Key Occupational Requirements

• A two years bachelor’s degree, in computer science, computer systems engineering, software engineering or mathematics  or
• Completion of a college program in computer science is usually required.
• A two years master’s or doctoral degree in a related discipline
• To practice as a Professional Engineer Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required.
• 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.

The profession for Software Engineers and Designers is one of the most rewarding occupations listed under the FSW Program 2014. A visa is initially granted for 5 years and at the end of 3 years the applicants can apply for Canadian citizenship and passport.