Software Development Manager

Summary/Objective
API is looking for an experienced Software Development Manager with a strong background as a full-stack Java developer and Angular developer.
This role is based in our technology office in Markham, Ontario. The ideal candidate will have exceptional technical and leadership skills, with a proven track record in hands-on leadership within an agile environment.
In addition, the candidate brings over 5 years of experience in software design and architecture, including leading cross-product architectural initiatives within the software development team. The candidate will collaborate closely with the Enterprise Architecture team, working on Proof of Concepts (POCs) and ensuring design approvals align with organizational and technical standards. The candidate is TOGAF certified, with demonstrated expertise in developing scalable, interoperable solutions across systems and platforms.
The primary focus will be on leading a team to deliver new product features, improve system performance and scalability, modernize legacy platforms, address production support escalations, and maintain the currency of the IT technology stack.

Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Full lifecycle application development.
• Design, code, and debug software systems using a Test-Driven Development (TDD) approach.
• Professional working experience with AWS Cloud platform and services.
• Perform software analysis, risk analysis, and reliability analysis.
• Provide mentorship to develop technical and soft skills for members of the team.
• Manage cross-team communications and priority setting for the team.
• Participate in software design, architectural discussions, prototyping, and development estimation processes.
• Integrate new software solutions with existing client systems.
• Participate in client requirements and scrum team discussions.
• Support production as needed.
• Conduct functional/system integration testing support and deployment.
• Experienced technical delivery manager.
• Experienced people manager.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead and Develop a High-Performing Team:
   • Provide hands-on leadership to a team of ~14 software engineers, including both onshore and offshore resources.
   • Mentor and guide team members in best practices for software development and project execution.
   • Conduct performance reviews, set objectives, and foster a collaborative team environment.
2. Drive Technical Excellence:
   • Utilize your expertise as a full-stack Java and Angular developer to oversee and contribute to the development of software solutions.
   • Ensure the technical quality, reliability, and scalability of all software deliverables.
   • Promote and implement best practices in coding, testing, and system architecture.
3. Manage Agile Development:
   • Lead an agile team to deliver new product features, system performance improvements, and scalability enhancements.
   • Facilitate agile ceremonies, such as sprint planning, retrospectives, and daily stand-ups.
   • Ensure effective backlog management and prioritization of tasks to meet project goals.
4. Enhance System Performance and Scalability:
   • Identify and address performance bottlenecks and scalability issues in core applications.
   • Implement solutions to improve system efficiency and ensure high availability.
5. Oversee Production Support:
   • Manage escalations and provide timely resolution for production support issues.
   • Coordinate with other teams to ensure that critical issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
6. Maintain Technology Stack Currency:
   • Stay updated with the latest technologies and industry trends.
   • Drive the adoption of new technologies and practices to keep the IT technology stack current and competitive.
7. Vendor Management:
   • Manage relationships with third-party vendors and service providers.
   • Oversee the evaluation, selection, and performance of vendors to ensure they meet contractual obligations and performance standards.
   • Coordinate with vendors to resolve issues and ensure timely delivery of services and products.
8. Stakeholder Communication:
   • Act as the primary contact for stakeholders regarding project status, technical issues, and requirements.
   • Ensure transparent and effective communication between onshore and offshore teams.
9. Process Improvement:
   • Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement best practices to enhance team productivity and project outcomes.
   • Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the development process.
10. Lead Design and Architecture within the Software Development Team:

• Lead the design and architecture efforts within the software development team, ensuring that solutions align with the organization’s technical roadmap and business requirements.
• Collaborate with the Enterprise Architecture team to validate and approve designs, ensuring consistency and compliance with enterprise-wide standards.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to define and refine technical requirements, as well as to identify and resolve architectural issues.
• Develop Proof of Concepts (POCs) to validate design decisions and test new technologies, working with the Enterprise Architecture team to ensure POC outcomes meet business objectives.
• Lead the review and approval of designs, ensuring scalability, maintainability, and performance goals are met across all products and platforms.

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• TOGAF certified.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in architecture and cross-product system design, specifically within a software development team.
• Experience leading enterprise-level architectural discussions and collaborating with Enterprise Architecture teams for design approvals and POCs.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in software development, including at least 3-5 years in a managerial role leading onshore and offshore teams.
• Minimum of 8 years of development experience in modern Java technologies.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience developing web-based applications.
• Prior experience in a senior developer role with technical team lead responsibilities for an agile team with offshore members.
• BSc/BA in computer science, engineering, or relevant field; MSc/MA preferred.
• Solid full-stack developer and design patterns.
• Professional experience with modern Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, Angular, Node, and MVC web-based applications.
• Experience using and implementing REST-based web services.
• Proficiency with AWS cloud technologies.
• Strong SQL, Redis, DB Migration tools, and AWS RDS skills.
• Professional experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Self-motivated and directed, with the ability to effectively prioritize, assign, and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work
This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, normal core business hours in Ontario, Canada. Evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This may include meetings with our offshore teams.
Supervisory Responsibility
Yes
Travel Requirements
Some occasional travel may be required, primarily to API’s corporate offices in Long Island, New York.