Director, Engineering

Summary

Join Liferaft as the Director, Engineering and lead a growing team in developing scalable, secure, and user-centric solutions for our threat intelligence platform. Reporting to the CTO, you will define the technology vision, improve engineering processes, and manage team performance and architectural integrity. This hybrid or fully remote role (within Canada's Eastern or Atlantic time zones) requires strong collaboration, people leadership, and technical foresight. You will build and manage a high-performing engineering team, define engineering best practices, lead architecture and implementation of data systems, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. The role also involves managing relationships with third-party vendors and generating performance metrics. Liferaft offers competitive compensation, investment in personal and professional growth, remote work flexibility, flexible time off, a yearly lifestyle subsidy, and a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with a focus on managing and leading teams
• Proven experience in a leadership role within a data engineering or related function (Senior Manager level or above) - Strong people management and mentorship skills
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
• Experience with PHP (or Python or Ruby) as well as Javascript and React
• In-depth knowledge of software architecture and system scalability
• Experience in developing and executing strategic plans for data engineering initiatives
• Track record of successfully managing complex software engineering projects from conception to completion
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and infrastructure management
• Knowledge of best practices for scalable and resilient software architecture in cloud environments
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including data science, analytics, and business units
• Demonstrated commitment to staying current with industry trends and advancements in data engineering

Responsibilities

• Build, inspire, and manage a high-performing engineering team with a focus on professional development, mentorship, and career growth
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive engineering culture
• Collaborate closely with the CTO, and broader engineering leadership team to set the vision and roadmap for data collection technology and practices
• Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and goal setting for engineering team members
• Define and implement engineering best practices, tools, and processes to manage technical debt and drive efficiency
• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of scalable and secure backend and data systems
• Guide the continued evolution of our React-based front-end, ensuring a consistent and intuitive user experience
• Evaluate and adopt emerging technologies that enhance infrastructure, scalability, and performance
• Lead a team of data engineers responsible for building and maintaining robust data pipelines and architectures
• Design and manage scalable data storage, processing, and retrieval infrastructure across cloud and on-prem environments
• Oversee the development and optimization of ETL processes and data integration pipelines
• Collaborate with data science, analytics, and business intelligence teams to support advanced data initiatives
• Partner with product leadership to translate customer and market requirements into technical execution
• Align engineering outputs with product vision and business goals
• Work closely with IT, security, and compliance teams to ensure high standards for data privacy, system security, and regulatory adherence
• Implement robust disaster recovery and backup strategies in coordination with infrastructure teams
• Manage relationships with third-party vendors, service providers, and infrastructure partners
• Generate and present performance metrics related to system performance, data quality, and engineering productivity
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the engineering organization

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degrees (Master’s or Ph.D.)

Benefits

• Competitive compensation plan & benefits
• Investment in personal and professional growth
• Remote work/office space with flexible hours
• Flexible time off – Take a minimum of 15 days/year with no cap beyond!
• $750 Yearly Lifestyle Subsidy
• Diversity & Inclusion Committee
• Authentic, engaged team, who value work life balance