Lead Software Engineer/ Hands-on Engineering Manager (Start-up downtown)

TEEMA Solutions Group; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A tech startup focusing on AI solutions is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to build its Toronto engineering hub. You will drive technical direction, manage a growing team, and own the architecture of cloud-native platforms. Ideal candidates have 10+ years of software engineering experience, with solid expertise in backend systems and a passion for mentorship. This role offers a unique chance to shape both the engineering culture and team from the ground up.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering experience.
• At least 3 years in a technical leadership or management role.
• Experience with cloud-native SaaS platforms.

Responsibilities

• Drive technical direction and architecture.
• Manage and mentor a growing engineering team.
• Lead hiring and shape engineering culture.

Skills

Software engineering experience

Technical leadership

Cloud-native SaaS platforms

Backend systems

AI/ML infrastructure

Mentoring engineers

Job description

Lead Software Engineer/ Hands-on – Founding Toronto Team

We’re helping an AI-native SaaS startup build its Toronto engineering hub, starting with a founding technical leader who’s eager to scale both systems and teams.

This is a rare opportunity for a Staff Engineer or Engineering Manager who’s still hands-on with code but ready to own architecture, mentor engineers, and help grow a high-impact team from the ground up.

What You’ll Do

Drive technical direction, architecture, and design across backend, frontend, and ML systems

Stay hands-on—review code, lead design sessions, and contribute to builds

Manage and mentor a growing team across backend, frontend, dev tools, and QA

Collaborate closely with the VP of Software and HQ team in Silicon Valley

Own delivery of key product features and infrastructure from the Toronto office

Lead hiring, onboarding, and shape engineering culture in a new hub

Help scale the team from 3 → 20+ engineers over the next 24 months

We like to speak with you if you offer :

10+ years of software engineering experience

Offer 3+ years in a technical leadership or management role

Built or scaled cloud-native SaaS platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)

Have deep expertise in backend systems, frontend architecture, or both

Experience building or integrating AI/ML infrastructure or LLM-powered products

Demonstrate a track record of leading cross-functional teams in high-growth or startup environments

Have been mentoring early-career engineers and growing healthy engineering cultures before

(Bonus) : Have experience with developer tools, IDEs, or platforms for engineers

Quick Self-Check:

Are you still hands-on but ready to grow and lead others?

Do you thrive in startup environments where speed and ownership matter?

Have you built scalable, production-grade systems in the cloud?

Can you build trust across product, design, ML, and engineering teams?If you answered “yes” to most of these, we’d love to hear from you. This is a unique opportunity to help build both a world-class engineering system and a world-class engineering team—from the ground up.

Apply: [e-mail] | 416-833-3533

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