Principal Software Engineer

Questrade Financial Group; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP matching up to 6%

Mental health coverage $5,000

Tuition subsidies $5,000 yearly

Parental top-up (26 weeks birthing /

Hybrid work environment

Paid vacation / personal / sick days

Community care day

Job summary

Questrade Financial Group is seeking an experienced Principal Software Engineer to own design and delivery of complex systems within the squad’s portfolio. You will drive technical excellence in Node.js and work with C# .NET, mentoring engineers and influencing architecture across the platform.

You will lead high-stakes tasks, optimize real-time data streaming and database queries, and collaborate with Product/Design to translate requirements into scalable solutions.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Information Systems, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of professional software development experience shipping large-scale full-stack apps.
• Backend with Node.js and modern JavaScript/TypeScript; eager to work with C# .NET; Kotlin/C++ a plus.
• Experience designing scalable RESTful and WebSocket APIs.
• Strong OO, SOLID, and software design pattern knowledge.
• Mastery of event-driven architecture and message queues (Kafka, RabbitMQ, Pub/Sub).
• Proficiency with SQL and NoSQL databases; familiarity with AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Frontend mastery with JavaScript/TypeScript; AI-assisted development experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own and deliver highly complex engineering tasks within the squad portfolio.
• Propose and design engineering solutions; prototype with stakeholders to shape architecture.
• Mentor engineers, review code, and guide implementation details.
• Troubleshoot and optimize performance in data streaming, DB queries, and client rendering.
• Define and run unit, integration, and performance tests; promote automation.

Skills

Node.js

TypeScript/JavaScript

C# .NET

REST APIs

WebSocket APIs

OO/ SOLID

Event-driven architecture

Clouds (AWS/GCP/Azure)

SQL/NoSQL databases

Education

BS or MS in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Kafka

RabbitMQ

PubSub

Job description

Questrade is on a mission to help Canadians to become much more financially successful and secure.

For nearly 30 years, Questrade Financial Group has been delivering on that mission through investing, banking, mortgages, and real estate. Together, we tilt finance in favour of ambitious Canadians, creating new ways for them to seize the financial future they deserve.

We're looking for people who are ready to enter their career inflection point. Mission-driven, exceptional folks that never settle. The work here is hard because the responsibility is real. If that's the standard you've been looking for, keep reading.

Req # 4306

The return on your career investment

• Compensation and incentives built to reward the value you bring.
• RRSP matching of up to 6%.
• Health and wellness resources and programs, including $5,000 in mental health practitioner coverage.
• $5,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses, every year.
• 100% parental top-up, up to 26 weeks for birthing parents and 18 weeks for non-birthing parents.
• A hybrid environment, with at least three days in the office built for working together.
• Paid vacation, personal, and sick days.
• A community care day to give back to the causes you care about.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy

The Principal Software Engineer is a hands-on technical leader who owns the design and delivery of complex systems within the squad's portfolio. You will act as a force-multiplier for your team, leading the execution of highly complex engineering tasks and proactively expanding your technical scope to drive broader impact across the platform.

Leveraging your expert knowledge of Node.js, you will drive technical excellence within your domain, with an eagerness to also work in C# .NET. You will support the Engineering Team Lead by setting high standards for innovation, mentoring engineers, and making key architectural decisions that ensure our digital investing platforms are scalable, performant, and robust.

The mandate

• Technical Delivery & Ownership: Maintain ownership of systems within the squad’s portfolio, proactively expanding scope to drive broader technical impact. Lead the delivery of highly complex tasks, ensuring exceptional quality within expected timelines.
• Architecture & Solution Design: Propose engineering solutions for highly complex systems within your domain. Collaborate with technical stakeholders on prototyping and research to influence the definition of solution architecture.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Act as a technical leader within the team, performing highly complex engineering tasks while supporting the Engineering Team Lead and other engineers on implementation details. Mentor team members by reviewing code, sharing expertise, and guiding them through complex technical challenges.
• Optimization & Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot and optimize solutions for highly complex issues. Apply expert knowledge to resolve performance bottlenecks in real-time data streaming, database queries, and client-side rendering.
• Quality Assurance: Define and execute complex test plans, including unit, integration, and performance tests. Ensure the team follows industry best practices for quality and automation.
• Innovation: Stay up-to-date on industry trends and evaluate new technologies. Make decisions on localized system choices (e.g., library selection, code refactoring) within established frameworks and approved technologies.
• Collaboration & Communication: Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (Product, Design) to translate business requirements into technical solutions. Clearly explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical teammates. Write clear documentation and design proposals.

You’re ready for this mandate if you have the following qualifications

• BS or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Systems Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 8+ years of professional software development experience, with a proven track record of shipping successful, large-scale full-stack applications.
• Backend Expertise: Deep expertise in Node.js and modern JavaScript/TypeScript backend development, with a strong eagerness to work in C# .NET. Experience with C++ is nice to have.
• API Design: Proven experience architecting and building scalable RESTful and WebSocket APIs.
• Software Design: Deep understanding and application of object-oriented programming (OOP), SOLID principles, and other software design patterns.
• Architecture: Mastery of event-driven architecture and message queues (e.g., PubSub, Kafka, RabbitMQ). Expert knowledge of engineering principles and strong knowledge of multiple architectural patterns.
• Data & Cloud: Strong experience with SQL and NoSQL databases, as well as major cloud providers (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Core Frontend: Mastery of JavaScript/TypeScript and modern frontend ecosystems.
• AI-Assisted Development: Eagerness to integrate AI tools (e.g., Claude) into daily engineering workflows — code generation, review, debugging, and documentation — to accelerate delivery and improve quality.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Ability to exceptionally perform and lead others on highly complex engineering tasks by applying or researching best solutions.
• Proven experience acting as a technical reference and supporting team decision-making.
• Strong ability to document technical solutions and lead technical discussions within the team.
• Excellent analytical skills to troubleshoot highly complex issues and propose efficient engineering solutions.

The final compensation package will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience, skills, and geographic location (Canada). It includes a comprehensive benefits plan and a competitive incentive (bonus) program for Full-Time Permanent roles.

Base salary range

$130,000 - $170,000 CAD

Technology and AI

We mix human ingenuity with advanced technology. For ambitious builders like you, we provide the latest technology to enable your creativity. You'll have everything you need to build the best outcomes and products for our clients.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Questrade Financial Group of Companies, we’re committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and accessible work environment where individuals are treated with dignity and respect. Our global team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and operate in.

Accessibility statement

Candidates selected for an interview are contacted directly. If you require accommodation during the recruitment or selection process, please let us know. We will work with you to meet your needs.

AI in hiring

Questrade Financial Group of companies Applicant Tracking System uses artificial intelligence (AI) for application screening. The AI system operates on predetermined criteria, with final decisions subject to human review.