Director of Software Development

Jonas Software

$155K — $175K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field
  • 8+ years in software development and architecture, focusing on desktop applications and 3D visualization
  • Proven history of delivering complex software in collaborative environments
  • Deep knowledge of software architecture and design patterns for scalability and performance
  • Strong experience with 3D graphics technologies (OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan, Unreal, Unity)
  • Proficiency in C++ and/or C#, particularly in optimizing performance
  • Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and their integration in software systems

Responsibilities

  • Define and execute engineering strategy aligned with business objectives
  • Translate product strategy into measurable technical goals
  • Oversee multiple engineering teams to ensure quality and alignment
  • Provide architectural governance across product portfolios
  • Guide modernization initiatives including cloud adoption and real-time optimizations
  • Implement efficient development processes to improve release cycles
  • Lead recruitment and mentor engineering staff to support team development

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead innovative projects in a reputable company
  • Access to a culture that promotes continuous learning and accountability
  • Engagement with cutting-edge technologies in the live entertainment industry
  • Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including product and UX professionals
  • Participation in the strategic direction of award-winning products
Full Job Description
Job Description:
Director of Software Development
CAST Group of Companies
Toronto, Canada

Compensation & Role Details
  • Expected Salary Range: The expected base salary range for this role is between $155,000 - $175,000 CAD , depending on experience and qualifications
  • Role Type: New Role
  • AI Disclosure: AI is used to screen, assess, or select applicants for this role

POSITION

The Director of Software Development at CAST Group is a senior technology leader responsible for driving the engineering strategy, execution, and organizational development for CAST's core product lines - including WYSIWYG, the global standard for lighting design and pre-visualization, and BlackTrax, a real-time tracking and automation system used in world-class live events and installations.

This role combines strategic leadership, architectural oversight, and hands-on operational management to ensure CAST delivers scalable, innovative, and reliable products that power the creative industries of tomorrow.

You will lead a multidisciplinary engineering organization - including software, systems, and QA - and partner closely with product management, UX, and the executive team to execute against the product roadmap and long-term technology vision.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Engineering Leadership & Strategy
  • Define and execute the engineering strategy aligned with CAST's business objectives and innovation roadmap.
  • Translate product strategy into clear, measurable technical goals and milestones.
  • Oversee multiple engineering teams, ensuring delivery excellence, technical quality, and cross-team alignment.
  • Build and maintain a strong engineering culture focused on accountability, performance, and continuous learning.


Technical Architecture & Innovation
  • Provide architectural direction and governance across CAST's product portfolio (WYSIWYG, BlackTrax, and new 3D visualization products).
  • Guide modernization initiatives - including refactoring of legacy systems, cloud adoption, and real-time rendering optimization.
  • Champion the integration of emerging technologies such as AI/ML, 3D visualization, and automation to enhance user experience and product performance.
  • Ensure architectural decisions support scalability, maintainability, and cybersecurity best practices.


Operational Excellence
  • Implement efficient development processes, CI/CD pipelines, and IT practices to accelerate release cycles and reduce defects.
  • Establish clear KPIs and performance metrics for delivery, quality, and system uptime.
  • Partner with QA and Product teams to enhance release management, testing automation, and customer satisfaction outcomes.
  • Drive risk management and technical debt reduction through structured prioritization and resource allocation.


Talent Development & Team Building
  • Lead, mentor, and coach senior engineers and managers to develop future leaders.
  • Promote a collaborative, transparent, and innovative team environment.
  • Recruit top-tier technical talent and support career development through structured training and performance management frameworks.
  • Foster diversity, inclusion, and engagement within the engineering organization.


Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Product, UX, and Customer Success teams to ensure seamless alignment between technical delivery and business value.
  • Communicate technical decisions, risks, and dependencies clearly to executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Contribute to company-wide strategic planning and investment decisions by representing the engineering perspective.


Key Deliverables:

Comprehensive Product Architecture Blueprint
  • Develop and document the end-to-end architectural design for WYSIWYG, and new 3D products - covering system components, integrations, data flows, and scalability considerations.

Technology Modernization Roadmap
  • Define and present a phased plan for evolving CAST's legacy and current platforms toward modern frameworks, and real-time rendering technologies.

3D Rendering and Visualization Framework
  • Establish or optimize the internal 3D rendering architecture, improving real-time visualization performance, GPU utilization, and integration with lighting and tracking systems.

Cross-Product Integration Strategy
  • Design and oversee implementation of shared services, APIs, and data exchange mechanisms to enable interoperability between CAST products.

Performance and Scalability Standards
  • Create architectural and coding standards that ensure stability, low-latency performance, and maintainability across the portfolio.

AI/ML Enablement Plan
  • Identify and prototype key opportunities for AI-driven features - such as predictive modeling, intelligent automation, or real-time analytics - aligned with product strategy.

Developer Enablement and Mentorship
  • Build technical capacity by mentoring developers, leading design reviews, and promoting best practices in architecture, testing, and deployment.

Documentation and Governance Framework
  • Deliver clear technical documentation, architectural decision records (ADRs), and governance templates to ensure consistency and knowledge transfer.

Evaluation of Emerging Technologies
  • Conduct research and present recommendations on emerging rendering engines, graphics APIs, and cloud infrastructure relevant to CAST's future roadmap.

Cross-Functional Alignment
  • Partner with product management and leadership to ensure technical decisions support business goals, creative flexibility, and customer innovation.


JOB QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
  • 8+ years of experience in software development and architecture, preferably within desktop applications, 3D visualization, or real-time systems.
  • Proven track record of architecting and delivering complex software products or platforms in a dynamic, cross-functional environment.
  • Deep expertise in software architecture, frameworks, and design patterns, with emphasis on scalability, maintainability, and performance.
  • Strong background in 3D graphics pipelines, rendering engines, or real-time visualization (experience with OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan, Unreal, or Unity is an asset).
  • Solid understanding of C++ and/or C#, with experience in optimizing high-performance desktop applications.
  • Exposure to AI/ML concepts, such as model integration, data pipelines, or intelligent feature development.
  • Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code.
  • Experience working within Agile methodologies using tools such as JIRA and Confluence.
  • Demonstrated leadership and mentoring ability, with a hands-on, collaborative approach to guiding technical teams.
  • Highly organized, disciplined, and proactive - able to establish structured workflows, set priorities, and make effective decisions in fast-paced environments.
  • Demonstrates initiative and curiosity - challenges the status quo, identifies new opportunities for improvement, and contributes to innovation across teams.


#LI-RT1

Business Unit:
CAST
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Number of Openings Available:
1
Worker Type:
Regular

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