Manager Engineering

Manulife; Southwestern Ontario; Hybrid; CAD 113,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

Manulife is hiring a Manager Engineering in Waterloo, Ontario, offering a hybrid work arrangement. The role demands 5–10 years of tech management in financial services, with a strong focus on strategic planning, program roadmaps, and delivery excellence.

You will guide software teams across multiple technologies and collaborate with business leaders to align initiatives with goals. You will mentor engineers, drive large-scale projects, and ensure high-impact outcomes while fostering an inclusive

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of progressive management experience in technology and financial services and/or insurance environments.
• Proven expertise in strategic planning, product strategy, and program roadmap development.
• Experience leading software development teams and delivering complex technology initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and inspire teams while promoting collaboration and teamwork.
• Strong experience coaching employees and leading teams through organizational and technological change.
• Passion for mentoring talent and supporting career growth and development.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Agile principles and software development methodologies.
• Strong understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Deep understanding of modern technology stacks and platforms (Node.js, React, C#, .NET, Azure, MongoDB/Cosmos DB, REST APIs, Mainframe, Windows/SQL Server, Java, Tomcat, Salesforce, GitHub, Jenkins, Jira, Power BI, AEM).
• Knowledge of business operations, capacity planning, and financial management principles.
• Deep understanding of project and program management methodologies, practices, and techniques.
• Demonstrated commitment to delivery excellence and removing obstacles to team velocity.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-squad programs involving complex technical, regulatory, and organizational initiatives.
• Develop implementation patterns, standards, and documentation to support ongoing maintenance of technical solutions.
• Define, manage, and deliver large-scale projects spanning multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Drive measurable outcomes and contribute to engineering team success.
• Develop and execute implementation plans across multiple workstreams for efficient delivery.
• Partner with business leaders to align solutions with strategic objectives.
• Maintain clear communication with stakeholders and provide program updates to senior leadership.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers, supporting career growth.
• Foster an engaging, inclusive, high-performing team culture and address performance concerns constructively.
• Collaborate with Architects, Technical Leads, and SMEs to ensure scalable, fit-for-purpose solutions.

Skills

Strategic planning

Program roadmap development

Software development leadership

Coaching & mentoring

Agile & SDLC expertise

Stakeholder collaboration

Technical communication

Delivery excellence

Job description

As a Manager Engineering, you will lead technology teams in delivering secure, reliable, and user-centric solutions that support business objectives. You will translate technical and business requirements into product and software development roadmaps, drive incremental delivery, and foster a high-performing engineering culture. This role requires strong technical leadership, program management expertise, and a passion for developing people and teams.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead cross-squad programs involving complex technical, regulatory, and organizational initiatives.
• Develop implementation patterns, standards, and documentation to support the ongoing maintenance of technical and regulatory solutions.
• Define, manage, and deliver large‑scale, high‑impact projects spanning multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Drive measurable outcomes and consistently contribute to the success of engineering teams and programs.
• Develop and execute implementation plans across multiple workstreams, ensuring efficient delivery and alignment with business priorities.
• Partner closely with business leaders to understand strategic objectives and ensure solutions align with organizational goals.
• Thrive in a dynamic environment by maintaining clear communication with all impacted stakeholders.
• Provide program‑level updates and insights to senior technology and business leaders, ensuring visibility into progress, risks, and issues.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers, supporting both program success and individual career growth.
• Foster an engaging, inclusive, and high-performing team culture while addressing performance concerns appropriately and constructively.
• Collaborate with Architects, Technical Leads, and Business Subject Matter Experts to ensure solutions are scalable, effective, and fit for purpose.

Required Qualifications

• 5-10 years of progressive management experience, including leadership experience within technology and financial services and/or insurance environments.
• Proven expertise in strategic planning, product strategy, and program roadmap development.
• Experience leading software development teams and delivering complex technology initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and inspire teams while promoting collaboration and teamwork.
• Strong experience coaching employees and leading teams through organizational and technological change.
• Passion for mentoring talent and supporting career growth and development.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Agile principles and software development methodologies.
• Strong understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Awareness of modern technology stacks and platforms, including Node.js, React, C#, .NET, Azure, MongoDB/Cosmos DB, REST APIs, Mainframe technologies, Windows/SQL Server, Java, Apache Tomcat, Salesforce, GitHub, Jenkins, Jira, Power BI, and Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
• Knowledge of business operations, capacity planning, and financial management principles.
• Deep understanding of project and program management methodologies, practices, and techniques.
• Demonstrated commitment to delivery excellence, continuous improvement, and removing obstacles that impact team velocity and outcomes.
• Understanding of how technology strategies support broader business objectives.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to see the broader organizational picture, evaluate alternatives, and identify innovative opportunities.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and growth through both successes and challenges.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills with the ability to navigate complex situations effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical strategies, opportunities, and outcomes to diverse audiences.
• Strong presentation, relationship‑building, and interpersonal skills.

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 distributed team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife And John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location

Waterloo, Ontario

Working Arrangement

Hybrid

Salary range is expected to be between

$113,000.00 CAD - $163,000.00 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 [e-mail] 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 [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.