At Poka, we’re transforming how frontline teams operate, learn, and solve problems.

Our connected worker platform is purpose-built for manufacturing, empowering frontline workers to share knowledge, collaborate in real-time, and drive continuous improvement. Think of it as the missing digital link, bringing the human interface into the stack of the Smart Factory, generating the right data and insights that drive entirely new scales of process improvements.

We’re proud to support global leaders like Nestlé, Bosch, Mars, and Danone in their digital transformation journeys and as part of the IFS family, our reach and impact continue to grow globally.

Software Development Manager

Role overview

As Software Development Manager, you are responsible for the performance, health, and delivery predictability of one or more development teams. You do not own technical architecture or day-to-day technical decisions. Instead, you create the conditions that allow teams to deliver high-quality software reliably, sustainably, and at scale.

Your success is measured by:

Developer growth and engagement
Quarterly delivery predictability
Quality of collaboration with Product and Design
Continuous improvement of the engineering delivery system
Effective adoption of levers such as AI

You work closely with Tech Leads, who are accountable for technical direction; Product Managers, who own scope and outcomes; and Designers, who are responsible for user experience and interaction design.

What you’ll be responsible for:

People leadership & team health

Coach, mentor, and support developers through regular 1:1s, feedback, and performance reviews
Support career development, growth plans, and promotion readiness
Foster a healthy, inclusive, and high-performing team culture
Recruit, onboard, and retain software development talent

Delivery ownership & predictability

Own quarterly delivery commitments for your teams
Plan work realistically based on capacity and constraints
Identify delivery risks early and adjust scope or escalate when needed
Manage intra- and cross-team dependencies
Protect teams from overload and unsustainable practices

Software Development system & process improvement

Continuously improve planning, execution, and feedback processes
Identify systemic bottlenecks impacting delivery, quality, or morale
Lead improvement initiatives and experimentation
Strengthen clarity around roles, ownership, and ways of working

Cross-functional collaboration

Partner closely with Product Managers to align priorities, scope, and trade-offs
Work with Tech Leads to surface technical risks and constraints early
Enable smooth collaboration with Design, QA, and other stakeholders
Communicate delivery status, risks, and confidence clearly to leadership

AI enablement & adoption

Drive the responsible and effective adoption of AI tools and practices within your team to improve productivity, quality, and developer experience
Encourage experimentation with AI-assisted workflows (e.g. coding, testing, documentation, analysis), in partnership with Tech Leads
Ensure AI usage aligns with company policies, security, and ethical guidelines
Track and communicate AI adoption, usage, and impact across teams
Share learnings, best practices, and successful experiments with other software development managers

Leadership & alignment

Act as a multiplier of strong leadership practices in software development
Coach and support Tech Leads in their role (without owning technical decisions)
Contribute to organizational alignment on delivery standards
Represent software delivery considerations in planning and alignment discussions

What you bring to the table

5+ years of experience in software development
5+ years of experience in a leadership or people management role
Strong people management, coaching, and feedback skills
Experience owning delivery outcomes for development teams
Ability to manage ambiguity, risk, and competing priorities
Strong collaboration and communication skills
Systems-thinking mindset with a continuous improvement approach
Experience with AI-assisted development tools or workflows is a strong asset
Ability to evaluate the impact of AI on team productivity and ways of working

What we offer:

Dynamic and collaborative work environment.
A generous vacation policy starting on your first day.
Hybrid work policy - Employees who live within a 40 km radius of our Québec City office or a 15 km radius of our Montréal office are required to work in-office two days per week.
100% remote work if you do not live within the radiuses mentioned above.
A truly flexible schedule that allows you to adapt your work hours.
Group insurance from day one (dental, medication, disability, travel, etc.) with employer contributions, including access to telemedicine and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
A retirement savings plan with employer contributions.
A MacBook Pro and a $500 home office allowance upon hiring.
Tasty snacks available at all times in our offices (fresh fruits, snacks, pastries, coffee, tea, etc.)
Generous referral bonus.
The tools, support, and opportunities you need to keep learning and progressing in your career.

*Certain benefits are exclusively accessible to employees in Canada.

Want to learn more about our culture? Click HERE.

Please note: An understanding of English is essential at Poka, as it is the language used during company-wide meetings and many internal communications, ensuring effective collaboration and decision-making. In addition, as Poka operates in an international environment, English is the primary language for communicating with our clients and partners, enabling us to better serve them and represent Poka in a professional manner.

Software Development Manager (Product Team)

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