VP of Technology

emergiTEL Inc.; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

emergiTEL Inc. in Toronto is seeking a hands-on VP of Technology to own the engineering and architecture strategy across applications, platforms, infrastructure, and Data & AI. You will lead a high-performing team, drive scalable roadmaps, and champion security and reliability.

The role requires strong AI leadership, cloud expertise (AWS), and a player-coach approach to shape technology investments and talent development, all within a hybrid Toronto setting.

Qualifications

• Architect-grade system design and architecture leadership across APIs, web and mobile apps.
• Hands-on cloud and platform expertise with AWS and IaC, CI/CD, and observability.
• Security-first mindset and resilient engineering practices.
• Experience scaling engineering teams during rapid growth.
• AI strategy, talent recruitment, and practical AI adoption.

Responsibilities

• Own the engineering and technology strategy across apps, platforms, infra, and Data & AI.
• Translate business objectives into a scalable tech roadmap.
• Lead architectural reviews and set engineering standards for quality and security.
• Drive Data & AI scaling, talent acquisition, and AI adoption.
• Partner with CPTO and executives to align tech with business goals.
• Mentor engineers and technical leaders to build a high-performing org.

Skills

Architect-grade depth

Cloud & Platform

Data & AI

Security-first

People leadership

AI strategy

Stakeholder mgmt

Architectural reviews

Cloud-native AWS

Tools

AWS

IaC

CI/CD

Observability

Job description

Location: Toronto, Hybrid
Department: Technology
Reports to: Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO)

Type: Full-time

About the Role

Our client is scaling rapidly, and technology is at the heart of how they deliver trust at scale. They are seeking a hands-on, architect-grade technology leader to own and elevate their engineering organization across application development, platform and infrastructure, and data & AI.

As VP of Technology, you will set the engineering and architecture strategy, raise the bar on technical excellence, and develop a high-performing team of engineers and technical leaders. This is a player-coach role requiring both strategic leadership and hands-on technical engagement to drive key architectural decisions, review designs, and support engineering teams.

Data & AI are central to the client’s future growth strategy. The successful candidate will bring strong AI expertise, strategic judgment, and the ability to attract, develop, and lead top AI talent while identifying and prioritizing the organization’s most important technology investments.

What You’ll Do

Own the engineering and technology strategy across application development, platforms, infrastructure, and Data & AI.

Translate business objectives into a clear and scalable technology roadmap.

Serve as the senior technical authority across the engineering organization.

Lead build-vs-buy decisions, architectural reviews, and technical standards for quality, scalability, performance, and security.

Champion architecture best practices and strengthen architectural capabilities across teams.

Scaling Data & AI

Define and execute the strategy for scaling Data & AI capabilities.

Drive investment decisions and talent acquisition in AI and machine learning.

Provide informed leadership on how AI will transform the organization’s products and services.

Embed AI thinking and innovation throughout the engineering organization.

Lead, mentor, and develop engineering teams and technology leaders.

Foster a culture of trust, accountability, collaboration, and ownership.

Design and evolve the organizational structure to support growth and scalability.

Lead technical recruitment efforts and elevate hiring standards across all disciplines.

Execution & Delivery

Ensure reliable, predictable, and secure software delivery.

Balance innovation and speed with operational resilience and security requirements.

Partner closely with the CPTO and executive leadership team to align technology initiatives with business objectives.

Provide strategic and technical guidance in both engineering and business discussions.

What You Bring

Architect-grade technical depth and breadth: Proven ability to lead system design and architecture decisions across APIs, web applications, mobile applications, cloud platforms, and infrastructure.

Hands-on cloud and platform expertise: Experience designing and operating modern cloud-native environments, preferably AWS, with strong knowledge of infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, and observability practices.

Strong security focus: Demonstrated ability to establish security-first engineering standards and resilient technology practices.

Modern web and mobile experience: Deep understanding of building scalable web and mobile applications and the APIs that support them.

AI leadership and expertise: Ability to define AI strategy, assess AI opportunities, recruit AI talent, and drive practical AI adoption.

Player-coach leadership style: Passion for leading teams while remaining actively engaged in technical decisions and challenges.

Proven people leadership: Experience developing engineers and engineering managers into high-performing leaders.

Technology strategy ownership: Experience defining and executing technology roadmaps aligned with business goals.

Strong communication and stakeholder management: Ability to engage effectively with executives, business stakeholders, and technical teams.

Adaptability and entrepreneurial mindset: Comfortable operating in fast-paced, evolving environments with high levels of ownership and accountability.

Direct experience building or leading Data & AI / Machine Learning initiatives.

Experience scaling engineering organizations through periods of significant growth.

Experience supporting multiple products, business lines, or platforms.

Industry experience within banking, fintech, telecommunications, digital identity, cybersecurity, or fraud prevention is considered an asset.