8+ years of backend software development experience, primarily in Python.
5+ years as a tech lead using Django or similar frameworks in a product-focused environment.
Proven experience managing engineers, including hiring and performance feedback.
Demonstrated ability to design, build, and scale large web systems in production.
Deep expertise in PostgreSQL, including data modeling and query optimization.
Strong background in designing and maintaining REST APIs and data pipelines.
Experience leading distributed teams across time zones.
Responsibilities
Lead the Data & APIs team, overseeing delivery of key infrastructure modules.
Set technical direction and architecture for services built on Python, Django, PostgreSQL, and AWS.
Remain hands-on by designing, writing, and reviewing code, and addressing complex production issues.
Design scalable data ingestion and API capabilities for large data volumes.
Collaborate with Product to shape requirements and plan releases.
Manage and mentor engineers in Toronto and coordinate with contractors in Eastern Europe.
Enhance engineering practices, focusing on code quality, testing, and performance.
Benefits
Competitive compensation package with bonus eligibility.
Comprehensive healthcare benefits.
Employee and Family Assistance Program.
Fitness and wellness credit.
Continuing education allowance.
Flexible hours and hybrid work policy.
Opportunity to work abroad for up to two months per year.
Choice of Mac or Windows equipment.
Full Job Description
Engineering Leader, Backend (Data & APIs) Back End Services - Toronto, Ontario (Hybrid but will consider remote)
About the Role We are looking for an Engineering Manager to lead our Data & APIs team, one of the small, autonomous teams within our Python backend organization. This team owns portions of the infrastructure and several customer-facing capabilities like importers, and d1g1t's document vault. This is a highly technical leadership role. You will set the technical direction for the team, stay close to the code, lead design and code reviews, and step in on the hardest problems, while also managing and growing a small team of engineers in Toronto and contractors in Eastern Europe. You will partner with Product and the other backend teams to plan and deliver work, keep a large, mature Django codebase healthy as it scales, and make pragmatic decisions that balance speed, quality, and business impact. The ideal candidate is a seasoned Python tech lead from a product company who has built large web systems, is comfortable with data-heavy workloads, and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
What You'll Do
Lead the Data & APIs team, owning delivery of the Importers, Document Vault, Events, Notes, and related infrastructure modules.
Set technical direction and architecture for the team's services, built on Python, Django, PostgreSQL, and AWS.
Remain hands-on: design, write, and review code, and lead the investigation of complex production issues.
Design scalable, reliable data ingestion and API capabilities that handle large and growing data volumes.
Partner with Product to shape requirements, estimate work, plan releases, and communicate status and trade-offs.
Manage, mentor, and grow engineers in Toronto, and coordinate effectively with contractors in Eastern Europe.
Raise the bar on engineering practices, including code quality, testing, observability, performance, and documentation.
Hire for the team and help shape the broader engineering culture within Python Services.
What We're Looking For
8+ years of backend software development experience, with Python as your primary language. 5+ years as a tech lead on Django or a similar Python web framework (FastAPI, Flask) at a product company - ideally a startup or fast-paced product organization rather than consulting or internal IT.
Experience managing engineers, including hiring, coaching, performance feedback, and day-to-day delivery.
Track record of designing, building, and scaling large web systems in production.
Deep PostgreSQL experience, including data modeling, indexing, query optimization, and diagnosing slow queries.
Strong experience designing and maintaining REST APIs and data pipelines.
Hands-on experience with background processing and distributed workloads (e.g., Celery, Redis).
Experience leading teams across time zones, including working with external contractors.
Clear, direct communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Nice to Have
Experience with big data and analytics workloads or data-heavy applications.
Experience with trading, portfolio management, wealth management, risk, reporting, or other financial software systems.
Experience with AWS services and cloud infrastructure.
Experience with NumPy, pandas, or similar Python data tools.
Experience with document management, file processing, or bulk data import systems.
Background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Perks and Benefits
Competitive compensation package with bonus eligibility.
Comprehensive healthcare benefits.
Employee and Family Assistance Program.
Fitness and wellness credit.
Continuing education allowance.
Flexible hours and purpose-driven hybrid work policy.
Ability to work abroad for up to two months per year, subject to conditions.
