Manager of Software Engineering

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. 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 .
We are seeking a passionate individual to lead talented engineering teams in creating exceptional outcomes for Kobo and our customers. As an experienced Engineering Manager, you’ll have the exciting opportunity to guide a dynamic team responsible for some of the software underlying our market-leading eReader devices. Your leadership will be pivotal in delivering an exceptional product with an engaging experience for our customers. In the role of Software Engineering Manager, you’ll be responsible for:
Leading ~20 engineers and testers in three Agile teams, focused on improving the software underlying Kobo’s eReaders.
Actively participating in technical delivery activities from system design through to monitoring & incident response, providing technical leadership at every stage
Providing mentorship and coaching to team members, actively seeking opportunities for their professional development & providing feedback in 1:1s and other settings
Continuously optimizing for a balance between immediate product goals, future technical needs, and current team health.
Coordinating with other delivery team leaders to ensure seamless cross-team collaboration on larger projects.
5+ years of experience in a leadership role within a Software Engineering team, preferably in a consumer device setting.

• Extensive experience in managing individuals, including providing feedback and conducting performance reviews.
• 5+ years of experience as a Software Engineer, preferably in C++
• Familiar with best practices, common challenges with building and maintaining consumer software products.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, represent, and advocate for technical approaches and team needs in strategic discussions, effectively bridging the gap between engineering and leadership.
• Strong understanding and practical experience with project management.

~ Bonus points:
Familiarity with eReader or consumer electronics device development.
Experience working with embedded systems, C++, or Linux environments.
Flexible hours and hybrid remote working environment
Subsidized in-office lunches
Four extended long weekends in the summer
Lifestyle spending account
Talent and development training budget
Maternity/paternity leave top up
Dog friendly office
Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the most advanced global ecommerce companies, with the world’s most innovative e-reading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to 30 million + customers in 190 countries. Kobo delivers the best digital reading experience through creative innovation, award-winning e-readers, and top-ranking mobile apps. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from Rakuten. Our worldwide practices describe specific behaviors that make Rakuten unique and united across the world. We expect Rakuten employees to model these 5 Shugi Principles of Success.
Maximize Customer Satisfaction - The greatest satisfaction for our teams is seeing their customers smile
Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Beware of fraudulent job offers claiming to be from Rakuten. At the time of posting, Rakuten expects the Compensation (base salary + discretionary bonus) for this role to be within the range shown below. The successful applicant for this role will be eligible for stock options, health, vision, dental insurance, RRSP matching, Personal Time Off (PTO), Volunteer Time Off (VTO), and other employee benefits as the company implements.
CAD $144,812.00 - 194,812.00 annually