Technical Architect

Bridgeport Crew is committed to building innovative, scalable, and user-focused digital solutions that create real impact. We combine strategic vision with innovative technology, and we're looking for a Lead Architect to guide our teams in delivering exceptional results.

Location: Kitchener, Ontario

This is an on-site role; remote or hybrid work arrangements are not available

Position Overview

We're a growing startup developing a next-generation platform from the ground up — and we're seeking a Technical Architect & Engineering Lead to be our first senior technical hire. This role is critical in shaping both our technology strategy and engineering culture.

As a key member of the leadership team, you will:

• Design and build the product architecture.
• Manage and scale infrastructure.
• Lead, mentor, and grow the engineering team.
• Ensure execution is efficient, sustainable, and aligned with business goals.

This position is broader than a traditional architect or tech lead. You'll contribute as a hands-on full-stack developer, engineering manager, systems architect, DevOps lead, and product partner.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Technical Strategy

• Define and implement the overall architecture for a scalable, cloud-native web platform.
• Make critical decisions around system design, microservices, API strategy, data modeling, and security architecture.
• Ensure the platform is designed for scalability, reliability, maintainability, and cost-efficiency.

Hands-on Engineering

• Write clean, robust code across the entire stack — from cloud infrastructure and backend services to frontend user interfaces.
• Set up the initial CI/CD pipelines, cloud infrastructure, monitoring, and logging.
• Lead technical implementation of core features, integrations, and infrastructure from scratch.

DevOps & Cloud Infrastructure

• Own and manage infrastructure using AWS or Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, etc.
• Implement DevOps best practices including CI/CD, automated testing, infrastructure-as-code, and observability.
• Ensure high availability, system security, and production-readiness from day one.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership to a small team of mid-to-junior developers.
• Establish engineering standards, code quality guidelines, and agile workflows.
• Mentor team members to support their growth and build a strong development culture.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with product, design, and business stakeholders to shape the roadmap and translate business goals into technical execution.
• Provide clear input on feasibility, trade-offs, timelines, and technical risks.

Technology Evaluation

• Stay current with industry trends and evaluate tools, frameworks, and platforms.
• Drive smart adoption of open-source and emerging technologies when they offer real value.

Our Current & Target Tech Stack

You don't need experience with every tool listed — but should be comfortable ramping up quickly where needed.

• Frontend: React, , , TypeScript, TailwindCSS, Vite, Component Libraries
• Backend: , TypeScript, Python, Go, REST APIs, GraphQL, Websockets
• Infrastructure & DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, AWS (preferred) or Azure, Terraform/CDK, GitHub Actions, CI/CD
• Database & Data: PostgreSQL, Redis, Supabase, NoSQL, Object stores, ORM tools, Caching strategies
• Authentication: OAuth, JWT, RBAC/ABAC, Identity Providers
• Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, CloudWatch, Sentry, OpenTelemetry
• Testing: Unit, integration, and E2E testing frameworks (Jest, Playwright, Cypress)
• Other: API design (OpenAPI/Swagger), Event-driven architecture, Pub/Sub

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of full-stack software development experience, with at least 3+ years in a senior technical leadership or architect role.
• Proven experience designing, building, and scaling modern web applications and distributed systems.
• Deep understanding of cloud-native architectures, containerization, and microservices.
• Strong expertise in DevOps, infrastructure-as-code, and cloud automation.
• Solid background in system design, data modeling, API design, and performance optimization.
• Hands-on experience with both frontend and backend development.
• Passion for clean, maintainable, well-tested code and modern software engineering practices.
• Strong communicator — able to clearly articulate technical decisions, mentor others, and collaborate with non-technical stakeholders.
• Startup-ready mindset: resourceful, self-directed, thrives in ambiguity, and focused on outcomes over process.

Bonus Experience (Nice to Have)

• Experience with Supabase, Firebase, or backend-as-a-service tools.
• Familiarity with analytics, event streaming, or real-time data pipelines (e.g. Kafka, WebSockets).
• Exposure to ML/AI integration or interest in emerging AI tooling.
• Strong eye for UI/UX, accessibility, and design system implementation.
• Past experience as a founding engineer or technical co-founder in an early-stage startup.

Why Join Us?

• Founding team member — help define the company's technical direction and long-term product vision.
• Take full technical ownership and build something from scratch the right way.
• Influence the company's roadmap, culture, and engineering org from the ground up.
• Build and scale a modern platform using the tools and technologies you believe in.
• Competitive salary and long-term leadership opportunities.