Vp, Architecture

Job Description: Rakuten Kobo brings the best reading experience to millions of readers worldwide. We operate ebook and audiobook storefronts across dozens of markets, build our own eReaders and reading apps, and run a content and technology platform that few companies of our size can match. Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities. If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.The Role
You will lead the architecture function for all of Kobo's products and services, reporting to the CTO and leading a team of four domain architects covering commerce and discovery, purchasing and reading services, eReader platforms, and data engineering. This is a VP-level leadership role exercised through architecture, not through P&L. You hold decision authority over Kobo's technology architecture — but your leverage comes from setting direction, defining the decision frameworks others use, and making the org better at making good calls without you in the room. You stay close to the code through design reviews and architecture forums.The Landscape you'll shape
Our third-generation ecommerce, ad-tech, marketing automation, and personalization platform, powering storefronts in over 40 geos Reading experience on iOS and Android apps, on the desktop Webreader, and our eReader devices A rich content catalog and data model powering search, discovery, and syndication with retail partners.What you’ll do
Lead, grow, and develop the architecture team — four domain architects with coverage across our major technology areas, with hiring authority as the function grows Run the architecture guild and practice forums. The guild is how architectural change is communicated to the broader engineering org;
the practice forums arewhere major architectural changes and questions get surfaced and stress-tested with our principal and staff engineers and architects. Grow both into the venue where Kobo's biggest technical decisions are made Identify gaps in our software ecosystem and drive the roadmap that closes them, in partnership with the CTO Define the decision rubrics and frameworks that let engineering teams make sound architectural calls autonomously — your influence should scale far beyond your calendar Champion pragmatic, incremental architecture: reduce complexity, improve velocity and reliability, and keep tactical delivery and long-term evolution moving together.What success looks like (first 12–24 months)
The architecture guild and practice forums are thriving — well-attended, respected, and the de facto venue where big architectural decisions are communicated and debatedThe flagship cross-functional initiatives are advancing or delivered, with architecture playing a visible, decisive roleThere is a living, prioritized view of gaps in our software ecosystem, with a roadmap the CTO and R&D leadership team buy intoThe Skillset
10+ years building and architecting software, including senior leadership experience (Architect /Principal / Director level) in software development organizationsDeep understanding of how large-scale systems hang together — distributed systems, event-driven architectures, data platforms, and the modern design patterns and frameworks that hold them upCuriosity and the ability to learn independently — you'll inherit a broad, varied estate, and nobody will hand you a manualCollaboration and communication — you can facilitate design sessions, deliver training, evangelize technology choices, and earn the trust of engineers more senior in their domains than you areA track record of defining frameworks and decision rubrics that help other people make good calls, rather than hoarding the decisions yourselfNice to have (context for our environment, not requirements)
Experience in ecommerce or ad-tech platforms operating at significant scale, in both real-time and asynchronous workflowsExperience with hybrid environments (own data centre + public cloud)Breadth across both client platforms and backend servicesWorking at Kobo
We offer competitive compensation, including salary, bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package. Full details are shared during the hiring process.The Perks
Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environmentSubsidized in-office lunchesFour extended long weekends in the summerFull benefits starting from your first dayPaid Volunteer days, unlimited sick days, and 3% RRSP matchingWork From Anywhere Program for up to 3 months (90 days)Lifestyle spending accountTalent and development training budgetFree Kobo device + free weekly e-book or audiobookWeekly Kobo Spark sessionsMaternity/paternity leave top upDog friendly officeAbout Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is the world’s digital bookseller created by and for booklovers. Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten Group, Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo’s millions of worldwide users can read anytime, anywhere, and on any device. With a mission to make reading lives better for all, Rakuten Kobo connects readers to stories using thoughtful and personalized curation of eBooks and audiobooks, and the best dedicated eReaders and apps for reading. With the singular focus of making reading lives the best they can be, Kobo’s open platform allows people to fit reading into more moments in their busy lives. To learn more about Rakuten Kobo, visit Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.#RKIND Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s most innovative eReading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to millions of customers in 190 countries. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo provides people with a choice when reading. Kobo offers an eReader for everyone with a wide variety of E Ink eReaders to suit any Reader’s style including Kobo Clara HD, Kobo Aura H2O, and Kobo Aura ONE;
along with the company’s free top-ranking eReading and audiobook listening app for Apple® and Android®. Kobo’s award-wining eReaders can be found in major retail chains around the world. For more information, visit With a growing catalogue of millions of titles in 97 languages, Kobo is a truly global eReading service for booklovers of all kinds, in every part of the world.
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