Manulife Financial Corporation

Lead Solution Architect

Manulife Financial Corporation$113K — $210K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years experience in Azure cloud environments
  • Hands-on experience with Terraform or Pulumi
  • Skilled in building CI/CD pipelines with GitHub Actions or Jenkins
  • Strong understanding of cloud networking, identity, and security principles
  • Proven ability to enhance reliability and observability of production systems
  • Experience mentoring and influencing technical teams
  • Excellent communication skills for complex technical topics

Responsibilities

  • Design and evolve Azure platform architectures for modern applications
  • Improve CI/CD strategies and infrastructure standards
  • Lead stakeholder technical discovery for business goals
  • Evaluate and recommend Azure and DevOps modernization
  • Guide cloud architecture decisions on security and resiliency
  • Support modern deployment of containerized workloads
  • Establish DevSecOps practices for compliance and policy enforcement
  • Mentor engineers and promote engineering best practices
  • Communicate architectural trade-offs to diverse audiences
  • Prototype AI-enabled tools to enhance cloud capabilities

Benefits

  • Customizable health, dental, and vision benefits
  • Mental health support and employee assistance programs
  • Life and AD&D insurance coverage
  • Retirement savings plans with employer matching
  • Generous paid time off including personal and sick days
  • Flexible work environment promoting well-being and inclusion
  • Opportunities for career development and growth
Full Job Description
Manulife is seeking a Lead Solution Architect to help design, scale, and modernize secure cloud platforms that support critical business systems across a global financial services organization.

In this role, you'll provide technical leadership across Azure platform architecture, CI/CD strategy, and infrastructure as code. You'll partner closely with engineering teams and stakeholders to deliver resilient, cost-effective, and secure cloud solutions. You will also have the opportunity to explore how emerging AI capabilities can meaningfully enhance modern application platforms-moving beyond experimentation to real-world impact.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys shaping platform direction, mentoring others, and balancing pragmatic delivery with long-term sustainability.

Position Responsibilities:
  • Design and evolve secure, scalable Azure platform architectures that support modern application workloads
  • Define and improve CI/CD strategies, infrastructure standards, and reusable platform patterns
  • Lead technical discovery with stakeholders to understand business goals, constraints, and risk tolerance
  • Evaluate existing Azure and DevOps environments and recommend modernization improvements
  • Guide teams on cloud architecture decisions related to networking, identity, security, observability, and resiliency
  • Support containerized and orchestrated workloads using modern deployment models
  • Establish and promote DevSecOps practices, including secure access, policy enforcement, and compliance automation
  • Mentor engineers and contribute to shared engineering standards and best practices
  • Communicate architectural trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Work effectively in environments with evolving requirements and incomplete information
  • Explore and prototype AI-enabled workflows, tooling, or platform capabilities where they add meaningful value


Required Qualifications:
  • Strong experience designing, implementing, and operating Azure cloud environments
  • Hands-on experience with infrastructure as code tools such as Terraform or Pulumi
  • Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions or Jenkins
  • Solid understanding of cloud networking, identity, and security principles
  • Experience improving reliability, availability, and observability of production systems
  • Ability to influence technical direction and mentor others without direct authority
  • Comfort working across teams and communicating complex technical topics clearly


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, AKS)
  • Familiarity with DevSecOps, SRE, or FinOps practices
  • Experience with observability tooling such as Azure Monitor, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, Datadog, or New Relic
  • Exposure to AI-assisted development, Copilot tooling, or OpenAI SDKs
  • Client-facing or consulting experience
  • Strong documentation and diagramming skills (e.g., architecture decision records, system diagrams)


What Success Looks Like:
  • Secure, reliable, and scalable Azure platforms with measurable improvements in performance and cost efficiency
  • Reusable IaC modules and CI/CD templates adopted consistently across teams
  • Clear architectural guidance and modernization roadmaps that reduce risk and accelerate delivery
  • Elevated engineering practices through mentorship and cross-team collaboration


When you join our team:
  • We'll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
  • We'll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
  • As part of our global team, we'll support you in shaping the future you want to see.


The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

Referenced Salary Location
Toronto, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between
$113,260.00 CAD - $210,340.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [redacted] for the salary range for your location.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [redacted] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

About Manulife Financial Corporation

John Hancock's core retail products in the U.S. focus on providing financial solutions at every stage of our clients' lives. Our product suite includes life insurance, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care (LTC) insurance, and annuities. We distribute our products primarily through licensed financial advisors, and through John Hancock Financial Network, a national network of independent firms.

Manulife Financial Corporation Careers

Join the dynamic team at Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading global financial services group dedicated to helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With a presence in more than 20 countries, Manulife offers a diverse range of job opportunities that empower professional growth and innovation in the financial sector. Work You’ll Do At Manulife, every position contributes to our inclusive culture of diversity, leadership, and innovation. We are committed to fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued and has the opportunity for personal and professional growth. Join us to be part of a company that values your skills and passion. Explore a Wealth of Opportunities Whether you're seeking your first internship or a seasoned professional aiming to advance your career, Manulife offers a spectrum of career paths ranging from finance and marketing to technology and customer service. Our job opportunities are designed to enhance your skills through robust training programs and hands-on experience in a supportive environment. Innovate with Us Drive transformation in the financial services industry with Manulife’s commitment to technology and innovation. Work alongside over 34,000 professionals globally, leveraging cutting-edge tools and processes that redefine how financial services are delivered. Be Part of a Great Team Manulife’s team-oriented approach ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. Collaborate with talented professionals from diverse backgrounds to develop solutions that improve the lives of our customers. Enjoy the benefits of a global company that supports your ambitions with resources and opportunities to lead and innovate. Future-Proof Your Career Manulife supports your career journey with continuous learning and development opportunities. From leadership training to networking events, we provide the tools to succeed and the platforms to showcase your achievements. Our commitment to career growth ensures that your journey with us will be rewarding and impactful. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the range of job opportunities at Manulife by exploring open positions that match your skills and interests. We are always on the lookout for curious, driven, and innovative team players who are ready to make a difference. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest company news, career tips, and industry insights—all from the people who work here. Manulife is dedicated to providing you with the resources to thrive in your career. Job Alert Emails Customize your experience by subscribing to receive job alerts and insider information tailored to your preferences. Learn about exciting and rewarding opportunities as they arise and how you can be a part of our transformative team. Join Manulife Financial Corporation today and be part of a leading company where your career is as rewarding as it is impactful. Explore how far your talents can take you in an environment built on respect, integrity, and a desire to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and our team.
Learn more about Manulife Financial Corporation
Size
38,000 employees
Market Cap
$33.4 billion
Industry
Founded
1887
5 Year Trend
+1%
NASDAQ

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