Descartes Unites the People and Technology that Move the World The need for efficient, secure, and agile supply chains and logistics operations has become ever more critical and complex. By combining innovative technology, powerful trade intelligence and the reach of our network, Descartes helps get goods, information, transportation assets, and people where they’re needed, when they’re needed.

We’re one of the most broadly deployed logistics and supply chain technology companies in the world. More than 26,000 customers around the globe use our cloud-based solutions to transform the way they move inventory and information to enhance productivity, better serve customers, thrive competitively, keep pace with evolving regulations, and respond to rapidly changing market conditions. Descartes is publicly traded (Nasdaq:DSGX, TSX:DSG) with headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and offices and partners around the world. With record financial performance for more than 16 years, we lead the industry in innovation investment. Every day, logistics service providers, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and other logistics-intensive businesses of all sizes rely on our scale, stability, and comprehensive solution footprint to move what’s most important to them. Learn more at www.descartes.com.

We’re growing fast and invite you to join our amazing team. Director, Software Development Location: Canada

Reports To: SVP, R&D Fleet Solutions

Salary Range: $120,000 CAD to $140,000 CAD. Compensation information provided is a good faith estimate for this position only. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills as well as the years of experience you have. Similar positions located in different geographic regions will not necessarily receive the same compensation or same currency.

About The Role We are seeking a Director, Software Development to lead and grow the development team responsible for one of our important products in our Routing, Mobile & Telematics business unit. In this role, you will balance strategic leadership, people development, and technical oversight to ensure the success of a mission-critical product line.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned leader who can inspire and develop talent, act as a trusted coach and mentor, and foster a high-performing engineering culture. You will collaborate closely with senior leadership, product management, and customers to ensure our solutions continue to deliver market-leading value.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership within the RMT software development organization.
• Coach, mentor, and develop engineering managers and senior technical staff, fostering a culture of growth, accountability, and collaboration.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, scalable, and secure applications that meet business objectives and customer needs.
• Partner with product management and sales teams to understand market opportunities, contribute to technical discussions, and support key initiatives.
• Build and maintain a strong, engaged, and motivated team by emphasizing inclusion, professional development, and long-term retention.
• Oversee the evolution of an existing core application, balancing innovation with stability and performance.
• Represent the technology organization in cross-functional discussions, providing insight on architecture, design, and delivery practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a leadership role (e.g., Director, Senior Manager).
• Proven track record of leading large teams building enterprise-grade SaaS or mission-critical applications.
• Strong technical foundation; able to understand and contribute to discussions on architecture, design patterns, and emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated success in developing talent and retaining high-performing engineering teams.
• Experience working closely with sales, product, and customers to align technology with business opportunities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.

Required Aptitudes We assess all candidates using our hiring framework, which emphasizes the following aptitudes:

• Smarts: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to navigate complexity.
• Curiosity: Eagerness to learn, adapt, and explore new technologies and approaches.
• Coachability: Openness to feedback and demonstrated growth mindset.
• Work Ethic: Driven, dependable, and resilient in the face of challenges.
• Track Record: Proven history of delivering impactful results at scale.
• Responsibility: Ownership and accountability for both people and outcomes.
• Honesty: Integrity and transparency in leadership and decision-making.

Why Join Us This is an opportunity to play an important role in shaping the future of a key product line within a global leader in logistics technology. You’ll have the chance to influence not just the technology but also the people and culture that make long-term success possible.

Join Us As we scale, we’re looking for new doers, collaborators and innovators to join Descartes in uniting the people and technology that move the world as the Global Leader in Logistics and Supply Chain Technology. We’re entrepreneurial, hardworking, geeky-in-a-good way problem solvers. Guided by our values, we nurture a TEAM focused culture that invests in people and creates opportunities for advancement across a broad spectrum of career paths. We prioritize work-life balance and foster an environment with the space to take ownership, to be heard, and to carve a path for your individual accomplishments to help drive our success. At Descartes, everyone has a voice and the best idea wins, regardless of who makes it. We offer competitive compensation, great benefits, remote and flexible work hours, and the opportunity to join a company on an awesome mission with a great existing team and trajectory.

Descartes also has a deep sense of environmental responsibility. Learn more about how we helped our customers save over 552,000 metric tons of CO2 in 2020 by reducing fuel and paper consumption: https://www.descartes.com/who-we-are/social-responsibility-sustainability/environmental-impact. Join a team that’s committed to working with customers to conserve resources and enhance sustainability.

If you feel you have 70% of the qualifications we are looking for, and Descartes sounds like the team and the mission you want to be part of, apply now. We can't promise it will be a fit, but we do promise to consider your experience.

Through COVID-19, we implemented a virtual hiring process and continue to interview and onboard candidates by video using Microsoft TEAMS. We record interviews and use them strictly for quality assurance, training and general record keeping purposes. Should you have any questions about this process, please connect with our hiring team in advance of scheduled interviews. We value the safety of each member of our community because we know we're all in this together.

We are an Equal Employment employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or local law. For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please review our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics at Descartes.com. Descartes is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. Applicants in North America with a disability who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process can email us at hrna@descartes.com. Provide your name and contact information along with the accommodation needed to assist you with the application process. Your request will be responded to as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.