Software Development Manager

About Virtual Marine

Virtual Marine is a privately held Canadian company with its headquarters in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Our mission is to improve the safety of life at sea by providing realistic, effective and safe training tools for small craft operators. Our simulators allow crews of small marine craft to train for real-life situations in environments that are often too dangerous and costly for live boat exercises.

Role Summary

Virtual Marine is seeking an experienced and dynamic Software Development Manager to lead our talented team of software engineers. This is a critical leadership role where you will be responsible for overseeing the entire software development lifecycle of our innovative simulation products, from conception and design to implementation, optimization, and ongoing maintenance. You will play a pivotal role in implementing our technical roadmap, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment, and ensuring the delivery of world-class simulation solutions that meet the evolving needs of the maritime industry.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Management

● Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of software developers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

● Conduct performance reviews, provide constructive feedback, and support career development for team members.

● Facilitate effective communication and collaboration within the software team and across cross-functional departments (hardware, design, training, project management, quality).

● Establishing and enforcing coding standards, development best practices, and design principles for the entire team

Measure and improve code quality

● Define and track code quality metrics (e.g., code coverage, complexity, linting)

● Lead regular code reviews, pair programming, and knowledge-sharing sessions

● Introducing static analysis tools, automated tests, and continuous code health dashboards

Project & Release Management:

● Manage the full software development lifecycle for multiple projects, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards.

● Work closely with product owners and stakeholders to translate complex client requirements into clear, actionable technical specifications.

● Monitor project progress, identify and mitigate risks, and resolve impediments to maintain project velocity.

● Oversee the release management process, including planning, scheduling, and controlling software builds and deployments to various environments (development, testing, production).

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

● Act as a key liaison between the software development team and other departments, including hardware, design, training, sales, and senior leadership.

● Collaborate with product management to define and prioritize product features and functionality based on market needs and client feedback.

● Engage with key stakeholders, prospects, and customers to understand requirements and provide technical insights.

Technical Skills & Qualifications

● Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Development, or a related field.

● 7+ years of progressive experience in software development, with a strong background in object-oriented programming (e.g., C#, Java, C++).

● 2+ years of proven experience in a leadership or management role, leading and mentoring software development teams.

● Solid understanding and experience with various game development tools and engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal, Godot).

● Proficiency with software design patterns and architectural principles.

● Demonstrated experience with agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).

● Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

● Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

● Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative environment.

● Passion for video games, simulation, and maritime safety is highly desirable.

Think you might be a good fit? Tell us what excites you about this role. Feel free to include links to your GitHub or other project sites.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

- Company events

- Dental care

- Disability insurance

- Employee assistance program

- Extended health care

- Life insurance

- On-site parking

- Paid time off

- RRSP match

- Vision care

Work Location: In person