AVP, Engineering

Acuity Insights; Calgary; Remote; CAD 250,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A modern technology company in Calgary is seeking an AVP, Engineering to lead its engineering transformation. The role involves owning the product engineering, driving architectural strategy, and creating a culture of innovation. The ideal candidate has experience in product-led environments and a strong background in AI and engineering practices. This position offers a competitive salary and the flexibility to work remotely within Canada.

Benefits

Base salary: $250,000–$300,000+ CAD

Comprehensive health benefits

Self-directed vacation (4–6 weeks)

2% GRSP matching

Annual learning budget of $3,000

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading modern, product‑led engineering organizations.
• Experience building AI‑powered products and leveraging AI to accelerate engineering workflows.
• Navigate ambiguity with steadiness.

Responsibilities

• Own the core of Engineering and lead platform architecture.
• Drive architectural and AI strategy.
• Be accountable for delivery with Product.

Skills

Leading product‑led engineering

Architectural and systems fluency

Coaching and talent development

Cultural leadership

Growth mindset

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Shape the Future of Engineering : Strengthen the Systems, Culture, and Capabilities Behind a Product-Led Organization

If you thrive at the frontier of what’s possible, where technology, culture, and purpose intersect, this is that moment.

We’re looking for a builder who embodies what’s next in engineering : hands‑on, inventive, fast‑learning, and unafraid to rewrite the playbook.

At Acuity Insights, we help education programs identify the human‑centred skills in applicants that define excellence in a changing world, skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and resilience, and we enable learners to develop those skills once they enter their programs, all while helping institutions manage the operational complexity of education through technology that keeps the human element front and centre.

Acuity is entering a period of accelerated growth, driving a fundamental reset in how we plan, build, and deliver solutions.

We’re re‑architecting our products, systems, and ways of working as a truly product‑led organization, where Engineering and Product move in lockstep around customer outcomes.

As AVP, Engineering, you’ll guide our engineering transformation, strengthen our platform foundations, bring an AI‑first approach, and build an engineering culture others look to as a model.

You’ll have the chance to leave fingerprints on how a modern technology company scales, technically, operationally, and humanly.

“This is about building the systems and culture that make innovation repeatable, not just for today’s products, but for the company we’re becoming.” - CEO

The Opportunity

You’ll join us at an inflection point, early in the creation of a new platform reshaping our architecture, practices, and culture to meet the next generation of customer needs. As AVP, Engineering, you’ll shape the technical foundation that will define our trajectory for years.

“Most people get to build something like this once in their career. What’s unique here is the chance to do it again, with everything you’ve learned, with better tools, and at a moment where AI is redefining what’s possible.” - AVP, New Products

“We’re finally in a place where we can rebuild things the right way…not patching, but actually rethinking how everything works. It’s rare to get this kind of clean‑slate moment.” - Senior Software Developer

What You’ll Lead and Shape

You’ll bring both strategic and operational ownership to how Acuity builds, delivers, and scales its products, leading the function that turns vision into reality.

• Own the core of Engineering. Lead Acuity’s platform architecture, engineering operations, and systems design, ensuring technical decisions align with business outcomes and build on the foundation to drive greater speed and scalability.
• Drive architectural and AI strategy. Make key decisions on architecture, data, and model design that power our next-generation products and platform capabilities.
• Be accountable for delivery. Partner closely with Product to bring ideas to life, Product defines the what, and Engineering defines the how. You’ll own the execution : hiring, planning, technical direction, and delivery excellence.
• Champion technical clarity and focus. Strengthen engineering practices and evolve release management, testing, and technical documentation standards.
• Foster a culture of learning and innovation. Create a fast, safe environment where experimentation and continuous improvement drive breakthroughs, and where engineers feel empowered to move with confidence and intent.
• Develop leaders and teams. Coach Development Managers and Engineers to think in systems, grow in autonomy, and model curiosity, accountability, and progress.

“What we're looking for is an engineering leader who leads through inspiration, drives innovation, and stays at the forefront of modern practice.” - VP Product & Engineering

Your Team and Collaborators

Your direct reports will include Development Managers and senior technical leaders responsible for platform engineering, spanning architecture, data, and AI / ML. You’ll work closely with these leaders to ensure the platform and teams scale with speed, quality, and cohesion.

You’ll join a highly collaborative, cross‑functional product organization, Engineering, Product Management, Product Design, Product Operations, Research, and Product Marketing, working closely across squads.

Your key collaborators :

• Product : AVPs of Product, PMs, Product Design, Product Ops
• Research : Psychometricians and data scientists to integrate AI and evidence‑based insights responsibly
• Customer Success & Support : Strengthening the practice of routing insights through PMs to ensure customer needs are prioritized responsibly
• People & Culture : Partnering on team growth, hiring, and leadership development

“We’re in a place where we can rebuild things the right way… not patching, but actually rethinking how everything works. It’s rare to get this kind of clean‑slate moment.” - Software Developer at Acuity Insights

What Success Looks Like in Your First Year

Within your first year, your impact will be visible :

• Engineering runs with rhythm and confidence. Teams ship predictably, learn continuously, and are proud of the systems and standards they’ve built.
• Clarity replaces friction. Product and Engineering are working as one, aligned on priorities, grounded in data, and collaborating with ease.
• Architecture becomes a strategic advantage. Our systems are stronger, faster, and more flexible, enabling us to deliver new capabilities with speed and confidence.
• AI is amplifying engineering efficiency. Teams use AI effectively to automate low‑value tasks, enhance development velocity, improve code quality, and free up time for higher‑impact problem‑solving and innovation.
• Leadership capacity is expanding. Managers and senior engineers are growing as mentors and collaborators, helping others level up and fostering a culture of shared ownership.
• Teams feel steady through ambiguity. You’ve led with transparency and calm, helping teams stay focused, aligned, and confident even as priorities evolve and the organization grows rapidly.
• Innovation feels alive. Experiments are running, ideas are flowing, and teams feel trusted to explore, balancing ambition with accountability.

“Success isn’t just about change, it’s about helping people believe that we can build fast, build smart, and build well together.” - AVP, Growth Products

What You Bring

You’ve led in product‑led, AI‑first engineering environments, evolving systems, elevating practices, and helping teams move with clarity, confidence, and speed. You bring hands‑on depth, strategic range, and the judgment to know when to dive in, when to guide, and when to empower others.

You balance urgency with thoughtfulness and connect engineering decisions directly to customer experience, product strategy, and business outcomes.

• Proven experience leading modern, product‑led engineering organizations. You’ve built and scaled high‑performing teams in SaaS or platform environments, with demonstrated experience building AI‑powered products and leveraging AI to accelerate engineering workflows.
• Architectural and systems fluency. You see the whole system, architecture, data integrity, delivery pipelines, security, performance, and make smart tradeoffs between speed, sustainability, and simplicity.
• Technical and product fluency through transformation. You navigate ambiguity with steadiness, bringing clarity to complex decisions and ensuring Product and Engineering move in lockstep.
• Coaching and talent development. You grow leaders, strengthening communication, autonomy, accountability, and strategic thinking across your teams.
• Cultural leadership. You model curiosity, collaboration, and humility, creating an environment where experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement thrive.
• A growth mindset. You adapt quickly, embrace new ways of working, and foster a culture where innovation is sustainable and grounded in responsible, ethical use of AI.

“We’re looking for someone who can help us move fast, learn faster, and bring out the best in the people who make Acuity what it is.” - VP Product & Engineering

Why This Work Matters

Our work spans admissions, analytics, and program management, and now we’re building the platform that will bring these pieces together to support the next era of higher education. A platform that enables fair selection, smoother operations, deeper insights, and AI‑powered experiences that help institutions and learners thrive.

You’ll help shape the systems and structures that make this possible, creating a foundation that future products, services, and partners will rely on. You’ll define what responsible innovation looks like and ensure the systems we build reflect the empathy and curiosity we ask schools to cultivate.

“We have the privilege of building technology that helps people become better professionals and better humans. That’s a pretty special kind of impact.” - CEO

This is more than a leadership role. It’s a chance to build something that will last, to leave behind not just better products, but a stronger, more human‑centred way of working.

We’ve Got You Covered

“We’re intentional about how we take care of people, compensation is just one way we show that trust, fairness, and well‑being actually matter here.” - VP People & Culture

Here’s some of what you can expect as part of the Acuity team.

• Base salary : $250,000–$300,000+ CAD.
• Health benefits : Comprehensive health and wellness coverage from day one for you and your dependents.
• Remote Flexibility : Fully remote within Canada, with the option to work abroad for up to six weeks per year.
• Time to rest and reset : Self‑directed vacation (typically 4–6 weeks per year) plus a two‑week company‑wide closure each December.
• Long‑term financial growth : 2% GRSP matching to support your financial future and long‑term security, and stock options so you share in the value you help create.
• Investment in your growth : A $3,000 annual learning budget for your development, whether it’s deepening technical mastery, expanding leadership skills, or pursuing curiosity projects.

What to Expect from the Process

We view hiring as a two‑way conversation, a chance for both of us to explore alignment in skill, impact, and values.

Our process will be structured, human, and flexible, designed to help both sides learn and make an informed decision. You can expect conversations that focus on your leadership experience, technical thinking, and how you build systems, people, and culture.

Typical steps include :

• Initial Conversation. Whether through outreach or submission, our first conversation is a human exchange to learn more about your experience, interests, and what matters most to you.
• Conversations with Hiring Manager. To dive deeper into your leadership philosophy, career journey, and alignment with the role’s vision.
• Panel & Team Conversations. Discussions with Product and Engineering leaders to explore collaboration, decision‑making, and impact.
• Decision & Follow‑Up. Once feedback is consolidated, we aim to make timely, thoughtful decisions and communicate clearly at every step.

We use AI note‑taking tools to improve accuracy, but every decision is made by people.

Our Story & Purpose

We believe everyone has incredible potential, and our mission is to help uncover it, nurture it, and bring it to life.

Our journey began with a simple idea : assess people not just by metrics, but by who they are. That vision started with Casper, developed with McMaster University to measure human skills like empathy and professionalism, and grew with One45, created at the University of British Columbia to help medical programs manage curriculum and assessment digitally.

Now united as Acuity Insights, we’re building a connected platform that supports learners and programs from admissions to graduation, serving partners across North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

We’re trusted by leading education institutions and powered by a team that believes technology can help build a fairer, more human world.

Life at Acuity Insights

We’re a remote‑first team of 140+ people who care deeply about our work and each other. We collaborate across time zones, connect intentionally through virtual rituals and co‑working days, and live our values, Caring, Curious, and Driven, in everything we do.

We scale intentionally, without losing what makes us special. We prioritize trust, flexibility, and inclusion, giving people the autonomy to do their best work and the space to keep learning.

If you’re looking for purposeful work, room to grow, and the chance to build systems that shape how people learn and lead, we’d love to meet you.