Director of Engineering – Toronto Development Center

The Director of Engineering – Toronto Development Center is a senior technology leader responsible for building, scaling, and leading the technology organization in Mercury’s Toronto Development Center (TDC). This role is accountable for delivering high-quality software and platform capabilities that align with Mercury’s technology strategy, while developing local leadership, establishing strong technology practices, and fostering a high‑ performance, people‑ first‑ culture.Reporting to the VP of Engineering, this leader partners closely with Application Development, System Engineering, Enterprise Architecture, Technical Product Management, Information Security, and HR to ensure TDC is an integrated, strategic extension of Mercury’s global technology organizationEssential Job FunctionsStrategic leadership & site visionDefine and execute the multiyear strategy for the Toronto Development Center, including scale, capabilities, and operating model.Translate Mercury’s enterprise technology roadmap into a clear engineering agenda for TDC across application development, quality engineering, DevOps/SRE, and technical product management support.Represent TDC in technology leadership forums and ensure alignment with global standards for architecture, security, and delivery.Engineering delivery & executionOwn delivery outcomes for engineering teams based in TDC, including scope, schedule, quality, and reliability of assigned products, platforms, and services.Establish and continuously improve engineering practices (code quality, testing, CI/CD, observability, documentation) to meet or exceed global benchmarks.Ensure TDC teams support key enterprise programs (e.g., policy admin, rating, data, AI/ML, platform modernization) with predictable, high-quality execution.Provide technical leadership on the responsible use and integration of AI(e.g., OpenAI, Claude, and related tooling) into engineering workflows, products, and internal platforms, in partnership with Architecture, Security, and Data/AI teams.Organization buildout & talent managementDesign and evolve the TDC organizational structure (teams, leadership layers, capabilities) to support current and future business needs.Hire, develop, and retain top engineering and quality talent in Toronto, including managers and technical leaders (e.g., Staff/Principal Engineers, DevOps, SRE, Staff QE).Lead performance management, calibration, and compensation recommendations for TDC engineering, in partnership with HR and Total Rewards.Culture, engagement, and inclusionBuild and sustain a strong, inclusive culture in TDC that reflects Mercury’s core values().Sponsor site‑level engagement activities, communication rhythms, and recognition programs that connect TDC team members to Mercury’s mission and the broader MTS organization.Partnership & stakeholder managementServe as the primary technology point of contact for TDC with executive stakeholders (CTO, COO, EDS leadership, Product leaders) for roadmap, staffing, and site strategy.Partner with HR Business Partners, Finance, and Operational Effectiveness on headcount planning, budgeting, workforce analytics, and AI‑driven productivity initiatives.Collaborate with Enterprise Infrastructure, Security, and Compliance to ensure TDC environments, tools, and practices align with corporate standards and AI/InfoSec controls.Leadership development & coachingCoach and develop direct reports (e.g., associate directors, senior managers, staff engineers) to build a strong local leadership bench.Promote a data‑driven, experimentation oriented mindset, including responsible use of AI tools in engineering to improve productivity and quality.Operational excellence & risk managementEnsure robust operational processes for TDC (change management, incident/problem management, on‑call rotations, environment management).Monitor and manage key performance indicators (delivery throughput, quality/defect rates, uptime/SLAs, utilization, budget adherence) and drive corrective actions as needed.Own TDC engineering operating and capital budgets for people, tools, and infrastructure; partner with Finance to forecast, track, and optimize spend across initiatives and fiscal years.Identify and mitigate risks related to talent, delivery, architecture, security, and regulatory/compliance requirements, including cross border considerations between Canada and the U.S.Education and ExperienceEducationBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical field required.Master’s degree in a technical field or business (e.g., M.S. in Computer Science, MBA) preferred.ExperienceTypically 12+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, systems engineering, or platform engineering, including:Significant experience leading multiple engineering teams or sites.Proven track record delivering complex, mission critical systems in a 24x7 environment.5+ years in a senior leadership role (e.g., Director/Sr. Director) responsible for people leadership, budgeting, and strategic planning.Experience building or scaling an offshore/nearshore or regional development center or distributed engineering organization strongly preferred.Insurance, financial services, or other highly regulated industry experience a plus.Knowledge and SkillsStrong command of modern software engineering practices (cloud‑native architectures, microservices, CI/CD, automated testing, observability).Deep understanding of organizational design, engineering leadership, and how to build high‑performing teams in a matrixed, global environment.Demonstrated ability to formulate and execute strategy, translate business objectives into technology roadmaps, and manage trade‑offs between speed, quality, and risk.Excellent people leadership skills: coaching managers and senior ICs, leading through influence, and communicating clearly across cultures and time zones.Strong financial and analytical skills: headcount and budget planning, productivity and utilization analysis, compensation/bonus input, and data‑driven decision making.Ability to navigate and implement security, compliance, privacy, and AI governance standards within engineering teams, including alignment with Canadian and U.S. regulatory expectations as applicable.Strong familiarity with the Toronto and broader Canadian technology and engineering talent market, including hiring channels, competitive landscape, and compensation trends.Working knowledge of Canadian employment standards and labor requirements (federal and provincial), with the ability to partner effectively with HR and Legal on complex matters.