Director of Software Engineering

Role overview

This opportunity is for a Director of Software Engineering to guide the design, build, and release of software used across a range of mission-critical business systems and digital products. The position is based in the Greater Edmonton Metropolitan Area and requires the selected candidate to live in the Edmonton area, since the role is office-based.

The role focuses on strengthening engineering discipline, improving delivery predictability, and raising software quality across the organization. It also introduces stronger structure, accountability, and current development practices for both new builds and existing platforms, while keeping day-to-day operations dependable.

The leader in this role will manage teams working across application development, platform services, and quality practices, partnering closely with stakeholders in both business and technology. A major part of the mandate is to move modernization forward without compromising the stability of established systems.

Engineering leadership

• Shape and continuously improve engineering standards, working methods, and delivery routines.
• Raise the consistency of delivery, the quality of code, and overall engineering performance.
• Put in place clear cadences, metrics, and reporting for engineering teams.
• Make sure technical work stays aligned with business priorities, security needs, and architectural direction.

Application and platform delivery

• Direct development work across web apps, APIs, integrations, and internal business systems.
• Improve how applications are managed throughout their lifecycle and delivered consistently.
• Help modernize customer-facing and internal digital platforms.
• Encourage practical use of modern engineering methods, including automation and cloud-oriented patterns.

Core systems and modernization

• Provide leadership across both legacy environments and newer application stacks.
• Keep reliability strong while modernization work progresses.
• Improve maintainability, scalability, and operational transparency across systems.
• Enable enhancements and integrations without interrupting core business operations.

DevOps and quality practices

• Build stronger DevOps capabilities, including CI/CD, automation, and release management.
• Advance testing through more automation and higher quality standards.
• Strengthen monitoring, incident handling, and reliability practices.
• Promote engineering workflows that are efficient and sustainable over time.

Vendor and delivery oversight

• Oversee relationships with outside development teams and vendors.
• Maintain clear expectations for quality, governance, and delivery consistency across vendors.
• Contribute to vendor selection, performance tracking, and alignment of delivery outcomes.

Leadership expectations

• Recruit, develop, and guide a strong engineering organization.
• Coach engineering leaders and help expand team capability and growth.
• Encourage accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement in the team culture.
• Work cross-functionally with business and technology partners to support successful delivery.
• Give senior leadership clear visibility into engineering priorities, risks, and performance.

Qualifications and experience

The ideal candidate holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline and brings at least 10 years of experience in software engineering or application delivery, including a minimum of 5 years in a people leadership role managing engineering teams. Experience leading work across both modern and legacy environments is expected, along with a strong grasp of software development practices, DevOps, and delivery models.

Additional strengths include a track record of improving engineering maturity, delivery processes, and team performance, plus prior involvement with external vendors or delivery partners. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are essential. Experience in a regulated or otherwise complex environment is considered an advantage.

Core competencies

• Clear and effective communication with stakeholders at different levels.
• Comfort leading through ambiguity, complexity, and organizational change.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving ability, and practical decision-making.
• Collaborative, grounded leadership approach.
• Excellent planning, organization, and execution skills.
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and delivery excellence.

Work location requirement

This is a work-from-office position, and the successful candidate must be based in the Edmonton area.