Senior Software Developer

Join the Cyber-DNS team at CIRA and play a key role in advancing Canada’s cybersecurity and DNS infrastructure! Our Cyber-DNS team is dedicated to protecting Canadians online by delivering cutting-edge solutions.

You’ll tackle projects that make a real difference—including empowering users with CIRA Cybersecurity Awareness Training, securing household and enterprise networks through CIRA Canadian Shield and DNS Firewall, or defending against DDoS attacks with Anycast DNS. This is your chance to be part of a team that’s shaping the future of digital security and DNS technology, making a meaningful difference in how Canadians and global citizens alike experience and trust the internet!

Who you are:

You are a passionate software developer who is driven by purpose. You have a strong background in Cybersecurity and a keen interest in DNS and related networking technologies. You are motivated by the real-world impact of keeping Canadians safe online, stay informed about emerging threats, and are excited to apply innovative and creative solutions to this mission.

You thrive in a collaborative environment, valuing open discussion, shared problem-solving, and learning from diverse perspectives. You enjoy tackling complex problems as a team and learning from your colleagues. Beyond your technical skills, you actively share your knowledge, mentor those around you, and champion initiatives to improve our software quality, resiliency, and security.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the design and development of XDR and DNS-based cybersecurity products and backend services using modern programming languages and frameworks.
• Translate security and business requirements into scalable and secure software solutions.
• Implement secure coding practices aligned with recognized standards (e.g., OWASP).
• Perform code reviews and mentor junior and intermediate developers to uphold software quality and security standards.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity analysts, DevOps, and infrastructure teams across CIRA.
• Support CI/CD pipelines and automation for testing, deployment, and monitoring in cloud and hybrid environments.
• Investigate and resolve complex issues related to application performance, security vulnerabilities, and system interoperability.
• Participate in architecture and design discussions to inform system evolution and technical decision-making.
• Write and maintain detailed technical documentation for systems, processes, and deployments.
• Participate in the rotating 24/7 on-call schedule to support service uptime and incident response.

What you bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7–10 years of professional experience in software development.
• Advanced proficiency in programming languages such as Java (Spring or Play Framework) or Python.
• Proficiency in Linux environments and scripting with Bash for automation and troubleshooting.
• Strong knowledge of secure application design, threat mitigation, and authentication/authorization mechanisms.
• Experience developing and supporting CI/CD pipelines using tools such as GitLab CI, Jenkins, or TeamCity.
• Familiarity with cloud-native development, containerization (e.g., Docker), and infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible).
• Understanding of DNS and networking protocols and their role in internet infrastructure.
• Experience working with relational and non-relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, DynamoDB, or similar).
• Understanding of cybersecurity concepts and technologies, including EDR/XDR, vulnerability scanners, firewalls, and frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK.

Who we are:

At CIRA, we’re driven by a passion to make a positive impact on Canada’s digital future. We’re not just asking, ‘What more can we do?’—we’re actively exploring new frontiers to enhance and secure the internet for all Canadians. Our recognition as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers for nine years is a testament to our vibrant culture. We believe in fostering an environment where collaboration and candour are second nature and where diverse perspectives are integral to our success, because we know that great ideas come from everywhere. If you’re passionate about innovation and ready to make a difference in a dynamic field, join us and help shape the future of the internet!

CIRA embraces a blend of remote and IRL in-office work to keep our team connected and engaged. Our Ottawa headquarters is a hub for regular events and social activities that bring our team together, encouraging a strong sense of community within our organization. No matter where you work from, you'll always feel part of our vibrant team and our shared mission.

At CIRA, people remain at the centre of our recruitment process. While CIRA uses recruitment platforms that include artificial intelligence-enabled features, which may be used to support administrative processes or skills-based assessments, these features are intended to assist our recruitment activities and do not replace human judgment. All applicant screenings, interviews, evaluations and selection decisions are conducted by our staff. Artificial intelligence is not used to make autonomous or final hiring decisions.

For any accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected]