Senior Software Engineer, Windows/Desktop Applications

Senior Software Engineer, Windows/Desktop Applications - Ontario, USA Mission The mission of Speechify is to make sure that reading is never a barrier to learning. Over 50 million people use Speechify's text‑to‑speech products to turn whatever they are reading – PDFs, books, Google Docs, news articles, websites – into audio, so they can read faster, read more, and remember more. Speechify's products include iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome Extension, and Web App. Google named Speechify the Chrome Extension of the Year and Apple named it the 2025 Design Award winner for Inclusivity. Responsibilities Lead the design, architecture, and development of native Windows desktop applications using Windows App SDK, WinUI (or related UI frameworks), C#, XAML, and, when needed, C++. Define and enforce best‑practice standards for Windows desktop development across the codebase – code architecture, performance, memory usage, responsive UI, cross‑version compatibility (Windows 10/11+), and maintainability. Drive accessibility efforts: integrate and validate support for Microsoft UI Automation and other Windows accessibility frameworks, ensuring keyboard navigation, screen‑reader support, and usability for users with disabilities. Collaborate closely with product designers, UX researchers, QA, and other stakeholders to shape feature planning, UI/UX architecture, and long‑term roadmap for the Windows platform. Take ownership of the full lifecycle of features: conception, design, implementation, testing, release, and maintenance – ensuring quality, reliability, and consistency across releases. Identify, diagnose, and resolve complex bugs, performance bottlenecks, memory leaks, rendering issues, or compatibility problems, proposing robust architectural or design solutions. Required Qualifications 3+ years of Windows desktop application development using Windows App SDK, WinUI (or similar), C#, XAML – and ideally additional experience with native Windows code (C++, Win32/WinRT/COM). Deep understanding of Windows application architecture, including interop between managed code (.NET) and native code. Proven track record of designing, building, and shipping production‑quality desktop applications, with an emphasis on reliability, performance, scalability, and maintainability. Strong experience with accessibility APIs on Windows (e.g., Microsoft UI Automation) and dedication to building accessible and inclusive software. Excellent software engineering fundamentals: OOP, design patterns, data structures, algorithms, memory management, multi‑threading or asynchronous programming where relevant. Experience leading technical design, mentoring other engineers, conducting code reviews, and making architecture‑level decisions. Strong communication skills; ability to articulate trade‑offs, collaborate with cross‑functional teams, and drive consensus. A user‑centric mindset: focus on building polished, intuitive, and accessible experiences for end users. Preferred / Bonus Experience writing automated UI tests – unit tests, integration tests, UI automation tests; familiarity with relevant testing frameworks. Experience with performance optimization for desktop apps (memory usage, startup time, rendering performance, high‑DPI support, responsiveness under load). Experience with localization/globalization, right‑to‑left UI support, internationalization, and multi‑regional accessibility. Familiarity with telemetry, analytics, crash reporting, logging, and error monitoring in desktop applications. Previous experience shaping CI/CD workflows, release pipelines, and deployment strategies for desktop applications. Demonstrated ability to take ownership of feature areas or modules and drive them long‑term, including maintenance, refactoring, and technical debt management. Benefits A high‑impact role: define architecture, shape the future of our Windows product, and directly influence what millions of users see and experience. A collaborative, flat‑structure engineering culture – you are not just a coder, but a builder and a decision‑maker. Opportunities to lead – mentor others, steer technical direction, and grow into broader technical leadership roles (e.g., Tech Lead, Architect). Flexibility, autonomy, and responsibility: own problems end‑to‑end and contribute to long‑term product vision. A purpose‑driven mission: building reliable, accessible, user‑centered software that makes a real difference for people. Salary The base salary for this position in the United States is 140,000–200,000 USD/Year plus stock and bonus based on experience. Application Think you’re a good fit? Tell us more about yourself and why you’re interested in the role when you apply. And don’t forget to include links to your portfolio and LinkedIn. EEO Statement Speechify is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Speechify does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. #J-18808-Ljbffr