Hybrid Engineering Manager

at ShyftLabs

• Job title: Engineering Manager
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: AWS, Cloud, Distributed Systems, Google Cloud Platform, JavaScript, Kafka, Node.js, Python, React, SQL
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Toronto, Canada

About the role

• Engineering Manager leading backend, AI, and data-platform initiatives for ShyftLabs. Driving both technical decisions and team alignment in a fast-paced startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end engineering lifecycle, from problem definition and PRD creation to delivery, launch, and iterative improvement across backend, AI, and data-platform initiatives.
• Translate business goals into detailed technical requirements, epics, and user stories for engineering teams working in Node.js, Python, React, and GCP/AWS cloud environments.
• Partner with engineering, data science, DevOps, QA, and design to prioritize roadmap items aligned with OKRs, cost constraints, and delivery velocity.
• Define and own success metrics including SLAs, SLOs, scalability, and cost-performance trade-offs while ensuring reliable and high-performing system delivery.
• Lead the development of AI-driven automation initiatives, such as OCR pipelines, reconciliation engines, anomaly detection, and LLM-powered data extraction.
• Conduct technical feasibility assessments and guide architecture decisions (e.g., GCP Cloud SQL vs. Aurora, Kafka vs. Pub/Sub, RDS Proxy adoption).
• Maintain alignment across teams through sprint planning, stakeholder reviews, backlog grooming, retrospectives, and transparent documentation.
• Own engineering documentation standards including PRDs, SOWs, cost models, and architecture diagrams.
• Coordinate with key vendors and partners (e.g., Altinity, AWS, Petco Cloud) to support integrations, platform scaling, and compliance readiness.

Requirements

• 5 to10 years of engineering experience, ideally in fast-paced environments, with a mix of hands-on technical work and leadership.
• Strong backend and cloud expertise across GCP/AWS, distributed systems, APIs, data workflows, and automation frameworks.
• Experience leading complex engineering or platform teams working on AI, automation, or large-scale data products.
• Comfortable diving deep into architecture and guiding engineers through trade-offs in reliability, scale, and cost.
• A builder’s mindset, outcome-focused, pragmatic, and able to find elegant solutions without overengineering.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to distill technical concepts for both engineering teams and business stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Bonus: Experience in startup or high-growth product environments where speed, adaptability, and ownership are essential.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits: We cover 100% of health, dental, and vision insurance premiums for you and your dependents which means no out-of-pocket costs. Eligibility starts from day one itself.
• Hybrid Flexibility: Enjoy a hybrid model with three days per week in our Toronto office.
• Growth & Learning: Access extensive learning and development resources to keep leveling up your skills.