Director of Software Engineering

About Dominion Dynamics See everything. Defend what matters. Dominion Dynamics is building tomorrow’s technology today: sovereign, next-generation defence systems for the harshest environments on Earth.

We’re delivering a software-defined command and control capability that lets Canada and its allies see, respond, and defend across every domain, starting in the Arctic, where extreme cold demands technology no one else can deliver. From prototype to deployment in months, we move fast, co-develop with operators, innovate at the edge, and test in our North. Our founding team includes veterans from Anduril, Google, Amazon, and the Canadian Armed Forces.

We’re building hard tech in hard places, and we're looking for system-level thinkers who thrive at the intersection of autonomy, aerospace, and national security. Why This Role Matters This is a critical technical leadership role responsible for building and scaling Dominion Dynamics’ software engineering capabilities alongside the CTO and broader leadership team. Reporting directly to the CTO, you will work closely with the Director of Hardware and cross‑functional engineering leaders to deliver tightly integrated, mission‑ready systems.

As Director of Software, you will lead the execution, architecture, and delivery of the software systems powering our platforms and autonomy stack. You will build and lead a high‑performing engineering team while remaining deeply hands‑on in the code, helping solve complex technical challenges alongside the team. This role is for a proven software leader who can balance technical depth, team leadership, and execution speed.

You understand how to build resilient, mission‑critical systems in ambiguous environments, and know how to help engineering teams move fast without compromising quality. What You’ll Do Accountable for the execution and evolution of Dominion Dynamics’ software systems across autonomy, platform systems, edge computing, communications, and mission‑critical infrastructure Direct the culture, team, processes, cadences, and best practices of a rapidly growing software engineering team as it scales from ~5 to ~50 over the next year. Stay hands‑on in the codebase, contributing directly to architecture, implementation, debugging, and critical technical decisions Drive the development of scalable, resilient, and secure software systems designed for harsh, disconnected, and operationally constrained environments Work closely with the Director of Hardware to align software with hardware requirements and deployment timelines.

Establish strong engineering practices across system design, testing, CI/CD, observability, and deployment without slowing iteration velocity Guide technical direction across distributed systems, embedded software, robotics infrastructure, real‑time systems, simulation, and edge compute environments Support testing and deployment cycles Interview, develop, and retain exceptional engineering talent while creating a culture of ownership, speed, and high standards Act as a senior technical leader within the company, contributing to roadmap planning, platform strategy, and long‑term system evolution What You’ll Bring 10+ years of experience building and leading high‑performing software engineering teams A proven track record of shipping complex software systems in defence, aerospace, robotics, autonomy, distributed systems, or adjacent technical environments Strong software architecture and systems‑thinking capabilities across backend, edge, embedded, or real‑time systems Experience building scalable engineering organizations while remaining technically hands‑on Strong programming experience in modern software stacks and comfort operating close to the hardware when needed Experience taking products and systems from concept through deployment in fast‑moving environments Comfort operating in ambiguous, resource‑constrained, high‑accountability environments Experience with distributed systems, autonomy infrastructure, robotics platforms, simulation environments, or mission‑critical systems strongly preferred A mission‑aligned mindset, motivated by national security, sovereignty, and real‑world impact Hands‑on leadership style: strategic when needed, in the details when it counts Eligible for (or able to obtain) Canadian security clearance Currently based in Ottawa, or willing to relocate to Ottawa for a full‑time, in‑office role with occasional travel ( We've hired people who didn't tick every box. If this is the work you want to do, please apply anyway. Why Join Us Building something meaningful starts with the right people.

At Dominion Dynamics, you’ll: Shape Canada’s future by building real defence capability for the CAF and our allies. Make decisions that ship in a high‑trust environment with short feedback loops and rapid iteration. Move fast, field faster, and work directly with the operator — our systems are in the field with the CAF now.

Have an impact from day one with equity, responsibility, and direct access to leadership. If you’re curious, hands‑on, and driven by the opportunity to make a difference, this is where you belong! Compensation & Benefits Competitive base salary and company equity Comprehensive health benefits Additional equity granted based on impact #J-18808-Ljbffr