Director of Engineering, Banking (Questbank)

Questrade Financial Group (QFG), through its companies - Questrade, Questbank, Questrade Wealth Management, Community Trust Company, Zolo, and Flexiti, provides securities and foreign currency investment, professionally managed investment portfolios, mortgages, real estate services, financial services and more. We use cutting-edge technology to help Canadians become much more financially successful and secure. At QFG, we combine human-centric collaboration with AI-driven innovation to redefine financial services. The ideal candidate will be a catalyst for change, using AI to transform and deliver unparalleled customer experiences and shaping a future where AI empowers our teams to do their best work. Join our diverse, inclusive, and hybrid workplace to unleash your creativity and nurture your curiosity without limits. If you share this sense of infinite possibility, come shape your future at QFG. What’s in it for you as an employee of QFG? • Health & wellbeing resources and programs • Paid vacation, personal, and sick days for work-life balance • Competitive compensation and benefits packages • Work-life balance in a hybrid environment with at least 3 days in office • Career growth and development opportunities • Opportunities to contribute to community causes • Work with diverse team members in an inclusive and collaborative environment This job posting is for an existing vacancy. We’re looking for our next Director of Engineering, Banking. Could It Be You? The Director of Engineering, Banking provides cross-functional management focused on the delivery of world-class engineering solutions in full-service digital banking services. This is a seasoned leader who enables the establishment of high-performing technical teams in the organization. As one of the key executors of the technology strategy, this role oversees the engineering teams responsible for delivering technology products, particularly in the area of Digital & Core Banking. This leader will implement innovative approaches to ensure their teams are unblocked and performing well towards their goals, in collaboration with product and other teams to fulfill Questrade’s mission: help Canadians become more financially successful and secure. As the Director of Engineering for a bank, you'll contribute to the technology strategy and execution that powers the bank's operations and customer experiences. You'll oversee the development and maintenance of the banking platforms that enable certain business outcomes, from core systems (e.g. Temenos, HPS, Thales, Equifax etc) to customer-facing mobile apps. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and a deep understanding of the financial services industry. • Platform Leadership: Direct the architecture and development of critical banking platforms, including core banking systems, digital banking channels, data platforms, and APIs. Drive the strategic roadmap for platform modernization, including cloud adoption and the integration of new technologies like Generative AI. • Team Management: Build, mentor, and lead high-performing engineering teams. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. • Strategic Execution: Translate business goals and regulatory requirements into a clear and executable engineering strategy. Ensure the end-to-end delivery of technical projects, from concept to deployment. • Security & Compliance: Uphold the highest standards of security, resilience, and regulatory compliance across all technology platforms. Collaborate with cybersecurity, risk, and fraud teams to protect the bank's assets and customers. • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with product, business, operations and other technology teams to align solutions with business needs and deliver a seamless experience for customers. This role is for a visionary leader who can navigate the complexities of a regulated industry while driving technological innovation to create a competitive advantage. Need more details? Keep reading… Delivery Responsibilities 1. Platform Strategy and Architecture This is the most critical area. The Director of Engineering is not just building software; they are building the technological foundation of the bank. • Core Banking Platforms: This involves contributing to key strategic decisions about the bank's core system—the central nervous system that manages accounts, transactions, and customer data. This could mean leading the teams through a multi-year continuous improvement lifecycle on cloud-native platforms like Temenos or HPS. This requires a deep understanding of the pros and cons of these platforms, as well as the technical and operational risks associated with these changes. • Digital Banking Platforms: This includes the public-facing applications (web and mobile apps) that customers interact with daily. The Director of Engineering is responsible for ensuring these platforms provide a seamless, secure, and intuitive user experience for everything from checking balances to applying for a loan. They must stay current with technologies that enable features like contactless payments, digital wallets, and biometric authentication. • Data and Analytics Platforms: Retail banks generate massive amounts of data.The Director of Engineering must architect the systems that collect, store, and analyze this data to provide a 360-degree view of the customer. This includes implementing data warehouses, data lakes, and analytics tools that power personalized insights, fraud detection, and risk management. • API and Integration Platforms: The rise of open banking means that banks must be able to securely and efficiently share data and services with third-party fintech partners. The Director of Engineering is responsible for building the API gateways and integration layers that enable these partnerships while maintaining strict security protocols. 2. Platform Modernization and Innovation The Director of Engineering is a key driver of the bank's digital transformation. • Cloud Adoption: A major part of the role is leading the move to the cloud (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure). This isn't just a technical task; it's a strategic shift that affects everything from scalability and security to cost management and time-to-market. • Emerging Technology Integration: They must evaluate and champion the adoption of new technologies that can improve the bank's platforms. This includes Generative AI for creating more personalized customer experiences and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) for streamlining back-office operations like loan processing and compliance checks. • Composable Banking: The trend is to move away from monolithic platforms and towards a "composable" architecture where different services (e.g., lending, payments, KYC) can be swapped in and out. The Director of Engineering must design and build the systems that make this modularity possible, increasing the bank's agility and ability to innovate. 3. Platform Security and Resilience In a regulated industry like banking, platform security is non-negotiable. • Risk and Compliance: They are ultimately responsible for ensuring all platforms and their components adhere to stringent regulatory requirements. This includes managing operational risk, credit risk, and financial crime prevention (e.g., Anti-Money Laundering). • Cybersecurity: This involves working closely with cybersecurity teams to implement robust security measures, including encryption, threat detection, and incident response plans.They must ensure the bank's platforms are protected from cyber threats and data breaches. • Operational Resilience: The Director of Engineering must ensure that the bank's platforms are highly available and can recover quickly from any disruptions. This involves building fault-tolerant systems, implementing disaster recovery plans, and conducting regular resilience testing. By focusing on these core responsibilities, the Director of Engineering ensures