Director of Software Development

Director of Software Development CAST Group of Companies – Toronto, Canada Compensation & Role Details Expected Salary Range: The expected base salary range for this role is between $155,000 – $175,000 CAD, depending on experience and qualifications Role Type: New Role AI Disclosure: AI is used to screen, assess, or select applicants for this role About the Company CAST is an award-winning developer of software and hardware solutions for the entertainment, events, and meetings industries. Our flagship products include WYSIWYG, the industry standard for lighting design and pre-visualization, and BlackTrax, a cutting-edge real-time tracking system. For over 30 years, we’ve driven innovation, recognized with 24 patents, two Emmy Awards, and multiple international industry honors. Our technology powers some of the world’s most iconic productions — from the Olympics and Super Bowl halftime shows to Cirque du Soleil, Disney, Apple, and major tours by U2, The Weeknd, and Carrie Underwood. Beyond live entertainment, we partner with global brands including Marriott, Loews, and Encore Global to transform event and production experiences worldwide. Position The Director of Software Development at CAST Group is a senior technology leader responsible for driving the engineering strategy, execution, and organizational development for CAST’s core product lines — including WYSIWYG, the global standard for lighting design and pre‑visualization, and BlackTrax, a real‑time tracking and automation system used in world‑class live events and installations. This role combines strategic leadership, architectural oversight, and hands‑on operational management to ensure CAST delivers scalable, innovative, and reliable products that power the creative industries of tomorrow. You will lead a multidisciplinary engineering organization — including software, systems, and QA — and partner closely with product management, UX, and the executive team to execute against the product roadmap and long‑term technology vision. Job Responsibilities Engineering Leadership & Strategy Define and execute the engineering strategy aligned with CAST’s business objectives and innovation roadmap. Translate product strategy into clear, measurable technical goals and milestones. Oversee multiple engineering teams, ensuring delivery excellence, technical quality, and cross‑team alignment. Build and maintain a strong engineering culture focused on accountability, performance, and continuous learning. Technical Architecture & Innovation Provide architectural direction and governance across CAST’s product portfolio (WYSIWYG, BlackTrax, and new 3D visualization products). Guide modernization initiatives — including refactoring of legacy systems, cloud adoption, and real‑time rendering optimization. Champion the integration of emerging technologies such as AI/ML, 3D visualization, and automation to enhance user experience and product performance. Ensure architectural decisions support scalability, maintainability, and cybersecurity best practices. Operational Excellence Implement efficient development processes, CI/CD pipelines, and IT practices to accelerate release cycles and reduce defects. Establish clear KPIs and performance metrics for delivery, quality, and system uptime. Partner with QA and Product teams to enhance release management, testing automation, and customer satisfaction outcomes. Drive risk management and technical debt reduction through structured prioritization and resource allocation. Talent Development & Team Building Lead, mentor, and coach senior engineers and managers to develop future leaders. Promote a collaborative, transparent, and innovative team environment. Recruit top‑tier technical talent and support career development through structured training and performance management frameworks. Foster diversity, inclusion, and engagement within the engineering organization. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner with Product, UX, and Customer Success teams to ensure seamless alignment between technical delivery and business value. Communicate technical decisions, risks, and dependencies clearly to executive leadership and non‑technical stakeholders. Contribute to company‑wide strategic planning and investment decisions by representing the engineering perspective. Key Deliverables Comprehensive Product Architecture Blueprint Develop and document the end‑to‑end architectural design for WYSIWYG and new 3D products — covering system components, integrations, data flows, and scalability considerations. Technology Modernization Roadmap Define and present a phased plan for evolving CAST’s legacy and current platforms toward modern frameworks and real‑time rendering technologies. 3D Rendering and Visualization Framework Establish or optimize the internal 3D rendering architecture, improving real‑time visualization performance, GPU utilization, and integration with lighting and tracking systems. Cross‑Product Integration Strategy Design and oversee implementation of shared services, APIs, and data exchange mechanisms to enable interoperability between CAST products. Performance and Scalability Standards Create architectural and coding standards that ensure stability, low‑latency performance, and maintainability across the portfolio. AI/ML Enablement Plan Identify and prototype key opportunities for AI‑driven features — such as predictive modeling, intelligent automation, or real‑time analytics — aligned with product strategy. Developer Enablement and Mentorship Build technical capacity by mentoring developers, leading design reviews, and promoting best practices in architecture, testing, and deployment. Documentation and Governance Framework Deliver clear technical documentation, architectural decision records (ADRs), and governance templates to ensure consistency and knowledge transfer. Evaluation of Emerging Technologies Conduct research and present recommendations on emerging rendering engines, graphics APIs, and cloud infrastructure relevant to CAST’s future roadmap. Cross‑Functional Alignment Partner with product management and leadership to ensure technical decisions support business goals, creative flexibility, and customer innovation. Job Qualifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline. 8+ years of experience in software development and architecture, preferably within desktop applications, 3D visualization, or real‑time systems. Proven track record of architecting and delivering complex software products or platforms in a dynamic, cross‑functional environment. Deep expertise in software architecture, frameworks, and design patterns, with emphasis on scalability, maintainability, and performance. Strong background in 3D graphics pipelines, rendering engines, or real‑time visualization (experience with OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan, Unreal, or Unity is an asset). Solid understanding of C++ and/or C#, with experience in optimizing high‑performance desktop applications. Exposure to AI/ML concepts, such as model integration, data pipelines, or intelligent feature development. Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code. Experience working within Agile methodologies using tools such as JIRA and Confluence. Demonstrated leadership and mentoring ability, with a hands‑on, collaborative approach to guiding technical teams. Highly organized, disciplined, and proactive — able to establish structured workflows, set priorities, and make effective decisions in fast‑paced environments. Demonstrates initiative and curiosity — challenges the status quo, identifies new opportunities for improvement, and contributes to innovation across teams. #J-18808-Ljbffr