Staff Software Engineer

STAFF SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Location: Ottawa, ON | Hybrid preferred | Remote Department: Core Apps Reports To: Sean Yang https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-yang-648b1a29/, Director of Engineering Type: Permanent | Full-Time

ABOUT SOLINK

At Solink, our mission is to safeguard what matters most. We provide businesses with the tools to know sooner and act faster by transforming video security into real-time operational insights.

Our cloud-based platform integrates seamlessly with your existing cameras and systems, turning them into intelligent sensors that detect and interpret key moments. This empowers teams to make data-driven decisions, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency.

Trusted by over 30,000 locations across 32+ countries - including brands like McDonald’s and JYSK - Solink delivers clarity when it counts. Our solutions help businesses reduce shrink, optimize performance, and respond proactively to potential threats.

We're growing rapidly, earning industry recognition, and scaling with purpose. We’ve been recognized by Deloitte’s Fast 50™ and Fast 500™, Business Intelligence Group, and as one of Ottawa’s Best Places to Work. And we’re just getting started!

THE ROLE

As a Staff Software Engineer, you’ll play a hands-on role in solving meaningful problems, driving outcomes, and contributing directly to Solink’s growth. You'll collaborate across teams and be trusted to take ownership - because we believe great ideas come from everywhere.

This is an opportunity for someone who’s energized by challenge, fast learning, and making a real impact.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Design, build, and maintain full-stack features across Solink’s video applications, with a strong emphasis on backend services and systems integration (roughly 60–70% backend).
• Build and evolve core video capabilities including:
• Stream lifecycle management (camera connectivity, health, state)
• Live and recorded video playback experiences
• Video export/clip generation workflows
• Investigation/search experiences that depend on fast, reliable video retrieval
• Develop and optimize backend services and APIs that support video workflows across edge and cloud environments.
• Work closely with edge and cloud components, including Linux-based edge devices and cloud services, to ensure end-to-end reliability.
• Improve storage efficiency and cost-performance of video workflows (retention, packaging, transcoding/processing strategies, and operational visibility).
• Contribute to design decisions balancing scalability, performance, reliability, security, and developer experience.
• Partner closely with Product, QA, and cross-functional engineering teams to translate requirements into pragmatic, production-ready solutions.
• Mentor and influence other engineers through code reviews, design discussions, and informal knowledge sharing.
• Continuously improve team tooling, observability, and processes, including thoughtful adoption of AI-assisted workflows where appropriate.

WHAT YOU BRING

Must-Have

• Strong experience as a senior-level full-stack or backend-leaning engineer, with the ability to contribute across frontend, backend, and infrastructure layers.
• Proficiency with modern web development, including JavaScript/TypeScript and React (or similar frontend frameworks).
• Deep backend experience (Node.js or similar), including API design, distributed systems fundamentals, and production reliability.
• VMS / video surveillance domain experience (camera systems, VMS concepts, video workflows, and operational expectations).
• Strong hands-on experience with video streaming technologies we use today:
• RTSP
• HLS
• WebRTC
• Practical experience with FFmpeg in production contexts (debugging pipelines, packaging/transcoding workflows, or integrating video processing into services).
• Strong understanding of video encoding/decoding fundamentals and the tradeoffs that impact:
• storage footprint and cost
• quality and latency
• playback compatibility and seek performance
• Experience working in Linux environments, ideally including edge-device or performance/IO-sensitive systems.
• Comfortable working in a codebase that includes C++ and/or Rust (you don’t need to be an expert in both, but you should be able to navigate, debug, and ship in systems-language-adjacent areas when needed).
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred) and modern deployment patterns (infrastructure as code, CI/CD, containers/serverless—whatever fits your background).
• Experience with video storage/retention strategies at scale (tiering, lifecycle policies, segment management, compaction/repacking, etc.).
• Familiarity with hardware acceleration and performance tuning for video workloads.
• Strong problem-solving skills, ownership mindset, and ability to influence technical decisions beyond your own code.

Nice-to-Have

• Experience with Kubernetes and cloud-native operations (observability, metrics/tracing, incident response, SLOs).
• Experience scaling systems in high-growth or “next-stage” environments.
• Interest in applying AI/ML or AI-assisted development techniques to improve product capabilities and team productivity.

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

• Candidates must undergo a criminal records check upon hire;
• Be a Canadian Citizen (dual citizens included), or eligible to work in Canada;
• Be willing to comply with Solink’s own security policies and standards.

OUR VALUES

We do things the Solink way

• Act with URGENCY – Our customers move fast, so we do too.
• Deliver with QUALITY – We sweat the details and hold a high bar.
• Win with TEAM – No egos. Just outcomes, built together.
• Lead with TRUST – We earn it through clarity, consistency, and care.

These aren’t just words—they shape how we hire, lead, and grow.

WHY SOLINK?

We’re not just building tech - we’re building a place where great people do great work.

• Clarity and trust: Where the role allows, we support flexibility in how and where work gets done - and we’re upfront about what’s required.
• Meaningful equity: Every full-time, permanent employee has a stake in our growth.
• Comprehensive benefits: Fully paid health & dental (no waiting period) + $500 health spending account.
• Wellness support: Monthly reimbursement for fitness, wellness, or mental health programs.
• Growth through merit: Advancement is based on contribution, initiative, and the ability to raise the bar - together.
• Candid culture: Clear expectations, honest feedback, and no politics.
• Social connection: From So-learns to Solink-o and So-lunches, we stay connected in ways that actually feel fun.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE HIRING PROCESS

We respect your time and value transparency. Here’s a general idea of what to expect:

• Intro call with our Talent Team
• Interview with the Hiring Manager
• Role-relevant task or case (if applicable)
• Final interviews with cross-functional team members
• Reference Checks
• Offer & onboarding 🎉

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY POINT IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESS.

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your resume and a short cover letter via our [Careers Page https://solink.com/careers/]. Let us know what excites you about this role, and how you’d help move Solink forward.

NOTICE: SOLINK USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TO SCREEN, ASSESS, AND/OR SELECT CANDIDATES FOR THIS POSITION.

SOLINK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WE’RE COMMITTED TO BUILDING A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE. IF YOU REQUIRE ACCOMMODATION DURING THE SELECTION PROCESS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.