Principal Full Stack Software Engineer - Canada

Very LLC; Canada; Remote; CAD 180,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge technology firm is seeking a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer to serve as the key technical architect across multiple client engagements. This remote position in Canada requires extensive software development experience and offers a competitive compensation package, including a base salary of CAD $180,500 and various perks such as healthcare and continuing education stipends. Your role will demand high standards for engineering excellence and the ability to lead complex projects in dynamic environments.

Benefits

Group RRSP match (4% employer contribution)

Extended healthcare, dental, and vision insurance

$150 USD/mo cell/internet stipend

$500 USD/yr home office equipment stipend

Continuing education stipend ($2,500 USD/yr after one year)

Loaned MacBook Pro and other necessary equipment

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional software development experience.
• 3+ years in a technical leadership role overseeing teams.
• Proven success with full-stack systems from concept to production.
• Strong client-facing communication and executive presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture reviews and ensure technical integrity.
• Translate client needs into technical plans and deliverables.
• Contribute high-quality, production-ready code.
• Support project health through technical risk identification.

Skills

Client Obsessed

Effective Communication

High Technical Standards

Thrives in High-Stakes Work

Leadership in Complexity

Education

BS or higher in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AWS

Django

React/Next.js

Docker

Terraform

Job description

About Very

(Remote – Canada)

Very is a fully distributed technology firm led by expert problem-solvers who create efficient, scalable solutions that move commercial, industrial, and consumer products from pilot to production in record time.

We believe that real innovation happens in the grind — working shoulder to shoulder with clients who are building the future. Our team thrives on that energy. When we’re not helping clients deliver business-critical outcomes, we’re refining our craft and celebrating what it means to do hard things well.

We’ve built a collaborative, tight-knit culture that thrives in both remote and in-person settings. We’ve won numerous workplace awards over the years, including Great Place to Work certification and recognition from Parity.org as a Best Company for Women to Advance.

Our clients include well-known brands like Vizio, Peloton, Clear, iHeart Radio, and Fellowes — all determined to leverage connected devices and AI to drive meaningful impact. Our job is simple: help them win.

About This Role

A Principal at Very operates with the highest degree of accountability for delivery and results. Principals are leaders who set the pace — for our clients, for our teams, and for the company. They provide technical clarity, push for precision, and never lose sight of why we’re here: to make our clients successful.

As a Principal Full Stack Software Engineer, you will serve as the key technical architect across multiple client engagements, ensuring that each system’s design and implementation align with customer goals and business outcomes. You’ll architect modern, scalable software spanning cloud, web, and AI-enabled systems — and you’ll get your hands dirty in implementation. Your technical skills must meet a very high standard: you’ll set the bar for engineering excellence through high-quality, maintainable, and scalable code.

This is not an easy role. You’ll work in complex domains, under real deadlines, and with clients who expect you to bring clarity, confidence, and results. If you find satisfaction in doing hard things well — in solving tough problems, building real systems, and helping others rise to the challenge — you’ll fit right in.

As a client services organization, travel may be required up to 10% of the time.

What You’ll Be Working On

Every engagement at Very is different, but they share one common theme: we build things that matter. From connected hardware and data systems to large-scale web and AI-driven platforms, you’ll:

• Serve as the key technical architect across multiple client engagements, ensuring technical strategy aligns with business goals and measurable outcomes.


• Lead architecture design across front-end, back-end, and cloud layers, ensuring scalability, maintainability, and performance.


• Contribute directly to implementation — writing production‑grade code that demonstrates the standard of craftsmanship expected at Very.


• Collaborate across disciplines (Hardware, Data Science, and Design) to deliver end‑to‑end connected and intelligent product ecosystems.


• Partner with our commercial team as a solutions engineer, supporting pre‑sales efforts, technical scoping, and estimation for Statements of Work.


• Establish standards for coding, CI/CD, testing, and deployment that enable predictable, high‑quality delivery.


• Identify and mitigate architectural or delivery risks early through proactive technical leadership.

You’ll operate in a modern, polyglot environment that includes:

• Frontend: React/Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind, WebSockets, Progressive Web Apps


• Backend: Node.js, Python (FastAPI, Django), Others


• Cloud: AWS (Lambda, ECS, RDS, CloudFront), GCP, Azure


• DevOps: Docker, Terraform, GitHub Actions, CI/CD pipelines


• Databases: Postgres, Redis, TimescaleDB, DynamoDB


• Testing: Jest, Cypress, Pytest, and other automated test frameworks

Outcomes

1. Deliver Successful Programs: Lead 2+ concurrent full-stack client projects to successful, on‑time delivery with high client satisfaction.


2. Advance Delivery Standards: Collaborate with Directors and Executives to continuously raise the bar for technical quality and delivery discipline.


3. Architect for Scale: Define architectures that achieve measurable improvements in system scalability, maintainability, and performance.


4. Mentor and Develop Teams: Push others to elevate their technical and delivery maturity — and make them better for having worked with you.


5. Support Growth: Partner with sales and client success teams to secure new opportunities and expand existing engagements.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture reviews, ensuring technical integrity, maintainability, and security.


• Partner with Product Managers and Technical Leads to translate client needs into technical plans and deliverables.


• Contribute high‑quality, production‑ready code as needed, modeling best practices for implementation and testing.


• Ensure adherence to Very’s standards for code quality, testing, and documentation.


• Support project health through proactive technical risk identification and mitigation.


• Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, and development of engineering talent.


• Represent Very in client meetings and at industry events as a subject‑matter expert.

Minimum Qualifications

General Experience

• BS or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field


• 10+ years of professional software development experience


• 3+ years in a technical leadership role overseeing cross‑functional engineering teams


• Proven success delivering full‑stack systems from concept to production


• Demonstrated ability to maintain public‑facing production systems at scale


• Experience leading complex projects involving platform, backend and frontend development


• Strong client‑facing communication and executive presentation skills


• Professional services or consulting experience strongly preferred

Technical Proficiency

• Deep expertise in multiple backend frameworks especially Django


• Strong front‑end experience (React/Next.js, TypeScript, responsive UI/UX principles)


• Skilled in relational and non‑relational data modeling


• Extensive knowledge in building from scratch and supporting event‑driven cloud platforms in AWS and Azure including security, logging, monitoring, observability and performance at scale


• Proficiency in CI/CD automation (GitHub Actions) and infrastructure‑as‑code (Terraform)

Skills

• Client Obsessed: Keeps the client’s success front and center. Measures technical choices by their business impact.


• Communicates Effectively: Expert communicator who informs, engages, and aligns diverse audiences.


• Sets the Bar: Holds themselves and others to exceptionally high technical and delivery standards.


• Thrives in the Grind: Finds energy and satisfaction in complex, high‑stakes work — and helps others do the same.


• Leads Through Complexity: Brings clarity and direction when projects are messy, high‑pressure, or uncertain.

Compensation

Base Compensation:

CAD $180,500 per year, commensurate with experience.

Variable Compensation:

Up to 20%.

Note: To qualify for this role, you must reside within Canada and have proper work authorization. We do not sponsor work visas.

Perks & Benefits

• Group RRSP match (Employer contributes 4% of your annual income)


• Extended healthcare, dental, and vision insurance


• $150 USD/mo cell/internet stipend


• $500 USD/yr home office equipment stipend


• Continuing education stipend ($2,500 USD/yr after one year)


• Loaned MacBook Pro and other necessary equipment

Why Work for Very

We do not promise an easy ride — we promise meaningful work.

We work hard because our clients’ success depends on it, and we take pride in delivering when others can’t. We collaborate closely, move fast, and stay grounded in results. We take joy in the process — in the problem-solving, the iteration, and the shared wins that come from doing the hard things well.

If you’re looking for a place where every project matters, where the standards are high, and where you’ll grow by pushing yourself and others — welcome to Very.

Important:

1. We don't currently provide Visa Sponsorship. Don't apply if you require this.

2. This job is fully Remote but if you’re not located in the region or country mentioned in the post’s title, do not continue. Your application won’t be reviewed.

Interviewing for a new company is a serious time commitment for all parties involved. Please take the time to read this and thoughtfully consider if we would be a good fit for one another. No contractors or agencies. Seriously. #LI-Remote