Senior Software Developer

IBM; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Ottawa is seeking an Application Developer to build, support, and maintain applications across platforms, with emphasis on C/C++, Python, and embedded systems.

The role requires Canadian security clearance and residency. It is onsite in Ottawa, Ontario, with responsibility to collaborate across engineering teams and deliver high-quality software solutions for clients.

Qualifications

• 8+ years hands-on software development experience.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python with low-level programming.
• Experience with device drivers and embedded hardware.
• Security practices and SDLC knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop, support, and maintain applications.
• Analyze and resolve issues to minimize client disruption.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design solutions.
• Guide teams and ensure high-quality delivery.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Low-level programming

Device drivers

Embedded systems

Networking concepts

System integration

Security best practices

Leadership / cross-functional teams

SDLC / design principles

Mentoring developers

Education

Master's Degree

Job description

Introduction

A career in IBM Consulting is built on long-term client relationships and close collaboration worldwide. You’ll work with leading companies across industries, helping them shape their hybrid cloud and AI journeys. With support from our strategic partners, robust IBM technology, and Red Hat, you’ll have the tools to drive meaningful change and accelerate client impact. At IBM Consulting, curiosity fuels success. You’ll be encouraged to challenge the norm, explore new ideas, and create innovative solutions that deliver real results. Our culture of growth and empathy focuses on your long-term career development while valuing your unique skills and experiences.

A career in IBM Consulting is built on long-term client relationships and close collaboration worldwide. You’ll work with leading companies across industries, helping them shape their hybrid cloud and AI journeys. With support from our strategic partners, robust IBM technology, and Red Hat, you’ll have the tools to drive meaningful change and accelerate client impact. At IBM Consulting, curiosity fuels success. You’ll be encouraged to challenge the norm, explore new ideas, and create innovative solutions that deliver real results. Our culture of growth and empathy focuses on your long-term career development while valuing your unique skills and experiences.

Your Role And Responsibilities

As an Application Developer, you will develop, support, and maintain applications.

Your Primary Responsibilities Will Include

• Develop and Maintain Applications: Develop, support, and maintain applications development platforms such as C, C++, and Python ensuring high-quality solutions that meet client needs.
• Analyze and Resolve Issues: Utilize expertise in technologies to analyze and resolve issues, providing timely and effective solutions to ensure minimal disruption to clients.
• Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Work closely with cross-functional teams to design and implement solutions, providing technical guidance and support to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Implement Solutions: Implement solutions that meet client needs, and high-quality results.

Preferred Education

Master's Degree

Pre Requirements

Required technical and professional expertise

Government of Canada Security Clearance is a requirement for this role. You must be eligible to obtain Secret, NATO and Controlled Goods Clearances

• Must be either a Canadian Citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident
• Must have resided in Canada for a minimum of 10 consecutive years, without leaving Canada (for any reason) for more than 30 days at a time OR traveling abroad to any non-NATO countries for any period
• Must have a clean criminal and credit history

This role involves examination, possession or transfer of controlled goods and technology as defined under the Canadian Controlled Goods Program and ITAR data/technology. To be eligible for employment in this role, you must be a Canadian citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident. Canadian citizens and permanent residents must be security assessed under the Canadian controlled goods program. If you hold dual or third nationality, in addition to being either a Canadian citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident the nationality must be from one of the following countries in order to be eligible for employment in this role: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, United States of America. All applicants will also be required to undergo an additional security assessment conducted by an IBM designated Controlled Goods Program official as a condition of employment.

This role is onsite in Ottawa, Ontario only.

Requirements

Required Professional and Technical Capabilities

• 8+ years of hands-on software development experience, including low-level programming
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as C/C++, Python, and other strongly typed languages
• Solid understanding of bitwise operations, memory management, and performance optimization
• Experience developing device drivers and firmware for embedded or hardware-integrated systems
• Strong knowledge of networking concepts and communication protocols
• Experience with system integration and ensuring interoperability between legacy and modern technologies
• Expertise in middleware development, including:
• Event brokers
• Service mesh / event mesh architectures
• Ability to collaborate closely with Solution Architects to plan, design, and deliver new features and capabilities
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams of developers and testers to successfully execute projects
• Demonstrated ability to make informed decisions on project direction, timelines, and resource allocation with minimal supervision
• Ability to drive process improvements by simplifying workflows, enhancing task management, and improving cross-team coordination
• Experience ensuring high-quality delivery standards, including rigorous quality control practices
• Demonstrated leadership in mentoring and guiding developers, including leading large or multiple cross-functional teams
• Ability to contribute to project estimation, planning, and strategic direction
• Experience implementing security best practices (e.g., NIST, ITSG-33)
• Hands-on experience with large-scale systems software development and integration
• Experience designing and implementing security controls with strong cybersecurity awareness
• Ability to contribute to technical evaluations and reviews of solutions developed internally or by third parties
• Proven ability to promote and enforce best practices and design patterns across development teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present to stakeholders and large audiences
• Strong adaptability, with flexibility to take on multiple roles and responsibilities as needed
• Strong understanding of design principles, software engineering processes (e.g., SOLID, DRY), and the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
• Experience with low-level engineering (e.g. Device driver development)

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Experience working in the Defence Industry or on defence-related systems
• Possession of, or eligibility for, Canadian Security Clearance
• Experience with Ada or other strongly typed programming languages
• Familiarity with AI-assisted coding tools and modern development workflows (e.g., code generation, and automation)