Rypple: Software Engineer / Developer

I haven’t talked about Rypple since they were a stealth startup looking for a ‘star software developer‘ and, later, a ‘star developer and front end ninja‘.  They’re no longer stealth, and they’re looking to hire a Software Engineer / Developer:

If you have a proven track record of building successful software (e.g. people love what you create), then we want to talk to you. If you don’t think its crazy to build both scalable, high-quality applications and release early and often – then you’ll like it here.

At Rypple, you’ll:

• Join our dev team to design and build our online apps and the infrastructure we run our business on.
• Regularly deal with users, customers, and our industry partners. You’ll be expected to come up with new ideas to create value and then implement and improve on those ideas
• Be a generalist with technology but a specialist with building world class applications.
• Be highly adaptable to technical challenges and thrive in an adaptive environment.
• Be disciplined and get stuff done.

The Good
The founders are entrepreneurs with a good track record at Workbrain, and I found them to be impressive in person.  They believe in agile processes.  Their product is in an interesting space and a space they know well.  Initial feedback on their product seems to be positive.  Because it’s a public application, you can take a look at it and see if it’s something you’re interested in being a part of, which is always a big plus.  The technology stack is a good one — GWT, REST, Hibernate.  They claim to be agile.

The Bad
Workbrain had a bit of a reputation as a sweatshop.  I haven’t heard the same vibe from Rypple, but ultimately that’s something you’d want to assess for yourself.

What’s Missing?
What’s the size and composition of the team, and where would you fit into it?  What’s the compensation like, from ‘generous pay’ to vacation and benefits?

YMMV
When last I spoke to the Rypple founders, they were believers in Peter Thiel’s hypothesis that low pay is a predictor of startup success — that members of a startup need to be hungry and committed to the success of the company, and that high pay prevents that from happening.  It’s an interesting hypothesis, but your mileage may vary when it comes to the specifics of how much Rypple is willing to pay you to join the team.  You won’t know if you don’t talk to them.

Your mileage may also vary when it comes to working for a startup.  It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

And finally, I’m increasingly irritated by job descriptions that mention things like ‘nunchaku skills.’  I know it’s intended to be humor, but my mileage does vary.

The Location
Yonge and Eglinton.  It’s not great if you’re coming from far out of town, in particular by GO, but it’s pretty accessible by Subway from most parts of the city.  There are lots of restaurants and shopping, particularly if you include Bayview Village and Mount Pleasant.  It’s neither the perfect location nor a bad one, to my eye.

In Summary
A development position for one of Toronto’s more visible startups.  If doing Java development for a startup sounds interesting, then you should probably talk to Rypple.

Ganz: Java/J2EE/Ecommerce Developer

Looks like Ganz is trying to find a Java/J2EE developer using Craigslist (although possibly through a recruiter).  There’s not a ton of detail here, and I can’t be absolutely certain about the employer, so I won’t do a full-workup.

That said, assuming this is Ganz/Webkinz:

• The technical stack seems reasonably solid, but I’d want to understand the mix of Java/PHP/Flash.  
• They have a visible, well-known product that is used by tons of children.  
• Reports from insiders imply that there are some management/culture issues.

Cornerstone: Application Development Manager

Cornerstone is looking for an Application Development Manager: 

Our Information Services department designs, develops and/or supports a number of sophisticated in-house and third party software packages used by our staff and our Clients.

• Provide architectural and design leadership and support in all phases of development life cycle.
• Provide technical and business leadership in advancing Cornerstone technology solutions that support business initiatives. 
• Perform high-level analysis and design.
• Propose technical solutions to meet defined business needs.
• Provide estimates for the development resources of projects.
• Recommend software development tools and language(s).
• Review and refine architecture as needed.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to staff members involved in account coordination.
• Extensive experience in developing large scale Microsoft .Net solutions.
• Experience in architectural design and development of web based solutions using Microsoft technology.
• Experience in designing efficient database schemas for large scale data solutions.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in the following technologies: Microsoft development platform, .NET, C#, C++, Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle. 

Unfortunately, their information services department doesn’t seem to include proofreaders, as the first paragraph above appears twice in a row in the posting.  Basically, an application development manager for a .NET shop.

The Good
Senior role, the role itself is reasonably well-defined.   The location, Yonge and Eglinton, is good for those already uptown or coming down the Yonge subway line, and it’s not a bad neighbourhood.

The Bad
Cornerstone is in marketing, all right — they say the right things without being too specific.  They talk about compensation but they don’t say what they’re paying.  They talk about software products without telling you what you’d be working on.  What’s the process?  How big’s the team?  What will you work on?  How much do they pay?

YMMV
Not everyone wants to work for a direct marketing database company.  You may not get tomatoes lobbed at you, but direct marketing is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.

In Summary
If you’re a .NET lead with some managerial experience and you’re not afraid a little direct marketing, this might be interesting.

Informiam/Genesys: Java Developers, Intermediate and Senior

Informiam / Genesys is looking for Java Developers, Intermediate and Senior:

As a part of our team of software developers you will be a contributor to the design and implementation of Genesys/Informiam’s rich interface web-based applications and products.

We are looking for developers with strong Java skills, good understanding of data modeling and relational database fundamentals, object-oriented design, a creative software design sense, and enthusiasm to build our complex and rich internet applications — real-time business intelligence and reporting analytics products used by some of the largest IT companies in the world.

The Good
A friend works there, and I know at least one other developer there has a good reputation via friends and colleagues.   Having a good team counts for a lot, so having two future colleagues with good reputations goes along way with me.

The technology mix is also interesting, for the most part: “Java 5 + 6, Spring 2.5, Spring Security (Acegi), Restlet, ActiveMQ, Maven 2, GWT, and Hibernate/JPA on a daily basis”

The Bad
I can’t personally summon much enthusiasm for what Informiam produces and sells.  The location is also pretty awkward for many of you.  Unless your house is North of the 401 and/or somewhere near uptown Yonge street, the location might be a bit of a problem.  There’s a fair amount around, but it’s not a commute that I’d be looking for.  It’d be nice if they talked a bit about the work you’d be doing, your role, the process, the compensation.  There’s also very little about who Informiam is, and why you might want to work for them.

YMMV
They mention ESB; that either means that Informiam has some very tough technical challenges ahead, or they like to adopt complex and painful technologies.  You decide.

I’m under the impression that they offer reasonable but unexceptional compensation.

In Summary
If you’re north of the 401 and looking for a job north of the 401 that isn’t out at Buttonville Airport or for someone huge like IBM, Informiam might be a good fit.  If you do take the job, lemme know and I’ll tell you  who you can trust. 

Unspecified: Application Integration Manager

A contract ‘manager’ role is a little unusual, but this posting for an Application Integration Manager has its good points:

We are looking for an outstanding professional contractor to work for our client on a six month contract. You will be working for a major player in the telecommunications arena. In this role you will be managing the relationship with extremely important clients through your adept skills and the breadth of your knowledge in relationship building, software development projects and integration.

What you will do:
-Perform client facing tasks ensuring client satisfaction through effective delivery
-Engage client as warranted to develop deliverables and manage expectations
-Lead the integration of client’s application with hosted middleware platform
-Implement the ecommerce application according to guidelines, budget, reqs etc
-Contribute to project estimation and planning phases

The Good
Notably, the pay.  $78/hr max should mean that you get paid $78k for the six-month contract.  That’s not mad money, but it’s not bad for six months work.

The Bad
Very little detail in some areas.  “Major player in the telecommunications arena” could mean a lot of different things.  What’s the work, what’s the process?  Who will you be working for and with?

YMMV
Contract’s not for everyone.  You may be making more than $78k already, and have benefits.  To take this job, you have to quit, with only $78k promised, and even that might not pan out.

On the other hand, you can take your 78k, live frugally for the rest of the year, and relax, or start a startup, or find another job.  The world is your oyster.  Whatever that really means.

In Summary
If you have the freedom to take a contract right now, and you’re making less then $78/hr, this could be interesting.

FreshBooks: Software Developer

FreshBooks is looking for a Software Developer.  Normally, I’d segueway right into a description of the job here, but there’s a pleasing backstory here that’ll set up the rest of this post.  A few months ago, I wrote about the job of Agile Web Development Manager for FreshBooks, and Corey Reid saw that posting, responded, and got the job, which he seems to be enjoying.

Now that he/they are looking to grow the team by adding a Software Developer, he’s come full circle by letting me know there’s another job at FreshBooks open, if I’m interested in posting about it.  And, indeed, I am.  Partly because of the backstory: A toronto technology jobs reader gets one of the posted jobs, then comes back to suggest new postings for the new company.  But also, because I’m impressed by FreshBooks.

Here’s what they’re looking for:

We need fresh-thinking, disciplined developers who don’t sneer at scripting languages but also know their enterprise-level design. In return, we supply a stable, creative environment (want a Mac? got Ubuntu? No problem!) with a competitive compensation package, and the sort of collaboration that comes out of just wanting to get things done, not from the latest IEEE-mandated “best practice”.

[D]esigning and developing our popular online application and the tools we use to run our business behind the scenes — you should be able to figure out what that entails. You’ll learn hands-on about our industry and our customers, and you’ll be figuring out how to make them happy, and then going ahead and doing it.

• 3 years’ experience building online applications
• 2-3 years experience with object-oriented development
• Serious SQL chops
• Communication skills like whoa (you better be able to talk to customers on the phone (yes, we talk to our customers on the phone))

FreshBooks describes themselves this way:

Love the fast-paced and creative environment of a start-up, but could do without the stress and chaos?  FreshBooks has been around for more than five years now and has a fanatical fan base of over 400,000 people who use our groundbreaking Web 2.0 application.

Personally, I’ve used FreshBooks’ product, found it easy to use and more than capable for the simple tasks I threw at it.  I think they’ve done an excellent job getting potential customers in the door through the freemiuim model, and then potentially getting revenue as their little fish grow in the way they use the product.  I’m inclined to believe that if FreshBooks keeps at it, they’re almost certainly going places (although perhaps they’re already “getting places”, I can’t say.

The Good
First and foremost, I think FreshBooks is an interesting company that stands a reasonable chance at success.  And, although I’ve only had a few conversations with him, Corey Reid seems like a nice enough guy, with a sense of humor, but also an earnestness about making a difference.

Secondly, because their application is public and easy to access, you can try the thing out before you apply for the job.  That’s rare, in Toronto.  Using it and building it are different, but it’s nice to get some sense of what you might be working on.

The Bad
Well, it’s a startup, so even with reasonable funding, there’s a question as to the compensation.  Although “competitive compensation package” implies it might not be awful, that also doesn’t mean it’s good.  They’re not looking for tons of experience, so that might be another cue with respect to the salary.  You’ll have to talk to them to sort this out.

And, despite some gentle prodding from me, there are still things I don’t know about the job, some of which might matter to you.  For instance, there’s limited references to specific technology.  Last I heard, this was a PHP shop, but there have been occasional Ruby references, so it’s hard to feel like I’ve got a concrete story to tell you in that regard.  The role, company and work seem to get reasonable descriptions.

YMMV
The location’s probably good for some, bad for others.  At roughly Glencairn and Dufferin, I’m inclined to say that it’s not ideal for a TTC commute.  If you’re not already midtown, uptown, or in the burbs, that location’s probably both inconvenient and lacking in the little touches that a great neighbourhood can offer.  That said, if you’re vehicle-commuting, or not too far away from that location already, it might be a good fit.  Besides, in your lunch hours, you can do some shopping for design stuff on Castlefield and deals up on Cartwright and Orfus.

Working in a startup’s not for everyone.  If you’re hoping for the kind of environment where you can spend a week surfing Slashdot before someone notices you’re done the last thing they asked you to do, you want to work for a bank, not FreshBooks.  I’m not going to go on and on about the differences between a startup job and an enterprise job, but they exist, and there are both good and bad sides to the coin.

In Summary
If this sounds good to you, and the location works, then I’d be happy to recommend you drop them a line.  I’ll let Cory Reid know when this post comes up, so if you have questions you want to fire off here, feel free to post a comment, and I’ll see if I can get him to respond.

World Vision: Director of Support and Infrastructure

World Vision is looking for a Director of Support and Infrastructure:

• Define the enterprise technology architecture and strategies, and set all associated policies, standards, and guidelines.
• Define technical evaluation criteria and participate in product selection for technology architecture domains.
• Ensure that proposed architectures are sound and aligned with corporate assets and competencies and provide guidance to ensure proper technical partner / vendor selections.
• Identify and understand trends in the IT landscape.

The Good
It’s a senior role for an organization focused on the protection of children, which most people would agree is a pretty noble goal.

The Bad
They’re large enough to think that PMP certification and ITIL are useful approaches in the management of IT, which may not be to everyone’s taste.

There’s not a ton of information on the work, process and technology. I’m guessing about the location for the job, and I’ll put in a similar guess for compensation: not exceptionally high. Honestly, if money is a key factor, I’m guessing that World Vision can’t compete, and to a certain extent, may not want to. That said, if this opportunity excites you, I suspect you’re better off talking to them than making assumptions.

YMMV
The location is out by 410/403 and the 401. That’s probably best for those of you in the West, or possibly the North, and certainly for those of you already highway-commuting.

Some of you are probably thinking that PMP and ITIL are good signs, I’m just not necessarily in agreement.

They’re self-identified as a Christian organization. Not everyone has a Christian background, and/or would be comfortable working for an organization that does. That said, I know someone who’s worked with them directly, and who would be happy to say that they’re a nice bunch of people, as you might expect.

In Summary
Seems tailor-made for a highway commuter (or someone already in the Northwest) looking to improve the world, rather than bring home the bacon, and willing to do so within a Christian organization.

Logitech: Sr. Manager, Software Program Management

Logitech is looking for a Senior Manager, Software Program Management, and apparently feels strongly about Scrum:

He/She will be responsible for building a high performance, agile project management and engineering services organization. This senior role is a member of the Customer and Platform Services group building leading edge internet-based customer services for the Logitech Harmony Remote product lines.

The Good
It’s a chance to work closely with a large company on a successful product line. It sounds like a serious and transformative role where you may get the opportunity to really drive Scrum at Logitech, or at least at this location. Assuming you do so successfully, this seems like a good resume-builder.

The Bad
As far as I can tell, you’d have to work in an industrial park in Mississauga. I’ve worked in that area before, and it’s a bit of a wasteland. You’d have to be a vehicle-commuter, and you’d probably want to be coming from the west or northwest.

If you’re willing to work out there, you might also want to ask yourself if you’d rather work for Wishabi, or RIM.

Then there’s the usual lack of detailed information. The role, process and technology have some definition, although not tons. The work, compensation and location are almost completely undefined, although I’ve obviously guessed about the location.

YMMV
There’s a .NET reference in there. Some of you might be enthused about .NET, some not.

If you’re coming from the west or northwest, possibly even the north, this might be a convenient, if dull, location. For the rest of us this location is both very inconvenient and dull.

I don’t imagine there’s much hands-on development in this role. For some, that might be a concern.

In Summary
If you believe strongly in agile processes, know a bit about Scrum and .NET and live in the west, north or northwest, this may be just the thing for you.

Little Bites: Domainer, GAP Adventures, Scotia Algorithmic Trading, Microsoft Security, Informiam/Genesys

Domainer’s looking for a “web developer“. Without a listed compensation range, my first instinct is that “web developer” often means “cheap developer” in the Toronto job market, particularly for startups. G.A.P Adventures looks more interesting but suffers from the same problem.

Personally, I think algorithmic trading systems sound like an interesting domain, but I haven’t explored the space in enough detail to argue the point. The technology mix of C++ and Java both is an interesting and unusual one.

Microsoft Canada wants someone to change the country’s perception about their security? Sounds like a dangerous mission for only the bravest of soldiers.

Informiam, bought by Genesys, is still looking for some creative developers up at Yonge and Finch. If you’re already up north, this seems like it could be an interesting place to work.

Little Bites: Wireless n-Tire, DVP & Eg, Tech Head, Stealth-Mode

Value-Added Recruiting is helping someone look for a Sr. J2EE Software Developer who can do wireless work.  It’s understandably wireless, because they’re looking for an “n-tire” server or web application.

CPAS is looking for some team leaders at the DVP and Eglinton.  The posting as a whole doesn’t grab me, but the location might appeal to some.

Bank of Montreal is looking for a Technology Head.  It’s an odd title, and the posting doesn’t really clarify for me, but it sounds like a senior position at a bank, if that’s interesting to you.

Star Software Developer for Stealth-Mode Company is interesting simply by being mysterious.