Engineering Standards, Lead

United States Digital Space LLC; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 145,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & Wellness

Benefits coverage

RRSP

Hybrid work model

Employee assistance program

Parental leave top-up

Donation matching

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC is seeking an Engineering Standards Lead to shape the Java/Kotlin backend technical direction across microservices. You’ll define standards, drive quality KPIs, and guide AI-assisted engineering initiatives while partnering with architecture, security, product, and practice leads.

From this role you will mentor engineers, influence cross-team practices, and ensure implementations align with risk, governance, and cloud-native patterns, enabling reliable, scalable

Qualifications

• 6+ years of software engineering experience with coding and delivery ownership.
• Deep knowledge of engineering standards across Git workflows, CI/CD, testing, secure coding, and code quality.
• Ability to define standards and implement them via templates, automations, and reusable tooling.
• Experience with modern developer platforms and tooling (GitHub, GitHub Actions, SonarQube, SAST/DAST).

Responsibilities

• Define, document, and enforce Java/Kotlin coding standards, design patterns, and architectural guidelines across backend microservices.
• Maintain engineering standards documentation as a single source of truth and integrate quality expectations into CI/CD pipelines using tools such as SonarQube, GitHub Advanced Security, linting, GitHub Actions, Maven, Gradle, and Jenkins.
• Lead code quality, security, and compliance initiatives by defining KPIs, conducting compliance scanning, reporting on findings, and driving remediation of critical issues.
• Evaluate and recommend shared Java backend libraries, build tooling, third-party frameworks, and backend platform practices that improve consistency, reliability, and developer productivity.
• Provide technical advisory input on API design, service contracts, inter-system integration patterns, cloud-native architecture, and modernization initiatives.
• Define AI adoption guidelines for backend engineering, including responsible use of AI-assisted coding tools, LLM integrations, AI-generated code review practices, prompt guidance, and guardrails aligned to risk and data governance expectations.

Skills

Java/Kotlin backend development

CI/CD & testing strategies

Security & code quality

API design & microservices

AI-assisted engineering guidance

Mentoring engineers

Communication with stakeholders

Tools

GitHub

GitHub Actions

SonarQube

SAST/DAST

Job description

Who We Are:

Every transaction matters. Every Canadian matters. At the company, we protect both — driving trust, security, and inclusion, so our digital economy thrives.

Founded in 1984, the company connects Canadians through secure digital payments, advanced identity verification and industry-leading fraud protection. Connecting banks, businesses, and individuals, the company enables millions to send, receive, and manage money safely and effortlessly every day — across both digital and physical environments.

As the backbone of Canada’s financial ecosystem, the company facilitates over 20 million transactions daily, supported by trusted partnerships with government and financial institutions. Consistently ranked as Canada’s most reputable financial technology brand, the company is deeply embedded in the daily lives of Canadians.

Who You Will Work With:

The Engineering Standards Lead role will report to the Software Engineering Centre of Excellence Lead and work closely with application development teams, architecture, security, product, and engineering practice leads across the company. This role provides technical direction and standards leadership for Java-based backend platforms and services, while supporting the responsible adoption of AI-assisted engineering practices across teams.

What You Will Do:

• Define, document, and enforce Java/Kotlin coding standards, design patterns, and architectural guidelines across backend microservices.
• Maintain engineering standards documentation as a single source of truth and integrate quality expectations into CI/CD pipelines using tools such as SonarQube, GitHub Advanced Security, linting, GitHub Actions, Maven, Gradle, and Jenkins.
• Lead code quality, security, and compliance initiatives by defining KPIs, conducting compliance scanning, reporting on findings, and driving remediation of critical issues.
• Evaluate and recommend shared Java backend libraries, build tooling, third-party frameworks, and backend platform practices that improve consistency, reliability, and developer productivity.
• Provide technical advisory input on API design, service contracts, inter-system integration patterns, cloud-native architecture, and modernization initiatives.
• Define AI adoption guidelines for backend engineering, including responsible use of AI-assisted coding tools, LLM integrations, AI-generated code review practices, prompt guidance, and guardrails aligned to risk and data governance expectations.

Coach and mentor backend engineers across product teams, influence standards adoption, facilitate working groups, and communicate technical recommendations to senior stakeholders.

What You Bring:

• 6+ years of software engineering experience, with strong hands-on coding and technical delivery ownership.
• Deep practical knowledge of engineering standards across Git workflows, CI/CD, testing strategy, secure coding, and code quality.
• Proven ability to define standards and implement them directly through templates, automations, and reusable tooling.
• Strong experience with modern developer platforms and tooling (for example: GitHub, GitHub Actions, SonarQube, SAST/DAST, policy-as-code).
• Ability to translate governance and risk requirements into clear, adoptable standards that teams actually use.
• Track record of improving developer experience while raising quality, reliability, and compliance outcomes.
• Comfort mentoring engineers, reviewing architecture/code, and driving consistent practices across squads.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to partner effectively with engineering, platform, and security stakeholders.

What We’re Offering:

The hiring range for this position is $145,000.00 - $160,000.00 , and you will also be eligible for our short-term incentive plan. The exact amount will depend on factors such as skills, experience, and job-related knowledge, but the company’s commitment goes beyond compensation. Our Total Rewards package is designed to support your well-being and future, and includes:

• Generous vacation and wellness days to help you recharge
• Comprehensive employer-paid benefits coverage for peace of mind
• Market-leading employer-funded RRSP program to invest in your future
• Flexible hybrid work model for better work-life balance
• Access to a free and confidential 24/7 employee & family assistance program to offer support for you and your immediate family
• Pregnancy and parental leave top-up to support growing families
• Charitable donation matching with United Way to amplify your impact

Why Join Us?

At the company, the impact we make, and the people who drive it, is profound. When you become part of our team, you’re joining a purpose-driven organization that’s shaping the future of digital finance in Canada. Here’s what you can expect:

• Investing in the Future – Help us unlock digital prosperity for all Canadians.
• Innovative Thinking – Collaborate on products, practices, and platforms that redefine what’s possible.
• Inclusive Culture – Be empowered to bring your whole self to work and realize your full potential.
• Inspiring Community – Work in an ecosystem where we lift each other up and rise together.
• Intentional Support – Enjoy flexible, supportive offerings that prioritize your total wellness.

Additional Pre-Employment Requirements:

To ensure the integrity of our organization, successful candidates will be required to complete background checks, which may include, Canadian Criminal Credit Check, Canadian ID Cross-Check, Public Safety Verification, 5-year Employment Verification, Education Verification, Credit Check, and Social Media Check.

Equal Opportunity Employer

the company is also an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe that innovation thrives when people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives come together. That’s why we are committed to providing fair and equitable employment opportunities for all individuals, without discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, ethnic origin, place of origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital or family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you require accommodation during any stage of the application or recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail]. We will work with you to meet your needs.