Principal Engineer - New Initiatives (Founding Platform Engineer)

General Information: Job Title: Principal Engineer – New Initiatives (Founding Platform Engineer) Location: Toronto (Onsite/ Hybrid) Job Type: Full-Time Reporting Line: Head of R&D Salary Range : $175–$210k CAD per year (negotiable) About Fulfillment IQ (FIQ): Fulfillment IQ is a supply chain engineering and transformation company that helps brands, retailers, and 3PLs design, build, and scale high-performance logistics operations. We work at the intersection of strategy, operations, and technology where we solve complex, real-world problems across warehouse design, automation, order management, transportation, and end-to-end supply chain execution. Our teams combine deep domain expertise with strong technical capability, delivering outcomes through consulting, systems implementation, and proprietary platforms that accelerate time-to-value and reduce delivery risk. If you enjoy working in complex environments, partnering closely with clients, and seeing your work make a tangible impact on how global commerce moves, this is the place where your skills and judgment truly come to life. Role Overview: We are seeking a Principal Engineer to act as the founding technical owner of a brand-new greenfield platform within Fulfillment IQ. This is not a feature delivery role. This is not a maintenance role. This is a 0-to-1 platform build role. You will be responsible for designing the core architecture, selecting the technology stack, and writing the foundational production code that future teams will build on. In the early phase, you will operate as a hands-on founding engineer. As the platform matures, your role will evolve into long-term technical ownership and system stewardship. This role blends deep engineering execution with architectural responsibility and product-level technical decision-making. Must Have: 10+ years of experience building cloud-native backend or platform systems Proven experience delivering greenfield products or internal platforms from scratch Strong hands-on experience designing and building distributed systems Experience with modern cloud infrastructure and deployment pipelines Ability to translate ambiguous business requirements into production-ready systems Strong engineering fundamentals across system design, performance, reliability, and maintainability Comfort operating in high-ownership, low-process, early-stage environments Nice to Have: Experience building workflow engines, orchestration systems, or DAG-based processing platforms Experience integrating AI/ML or LLM-driven components into production systems Exposure to logistics, supply chain, fintech, or data-intensive SaaS platforms Prior experience in founding engineer or early platform team roles Key Responsibilities: Own end-to-end technical design and implementation of a new greenfield platform Select technology stack, data models, and architectural patterns Build core services, APIs, workflows, and foundational infrastructure Establish development standards, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering best practices Design systems with scalability, performance, and long-term maintainability in mind Rapidly prototype and validate architectural decisions through real implementations Translate business requirements into robust technical solutions Identify architectural risks early and prevent technical debt accumulation Collaborate with Product and Leadership to align technical execution with roadmap priorities Produce technical documentation and system design artifacts Serve as the primary technical owner for the platform’s early lifecycle What Success Looks Like in the First 90 Days: 30 Days In Develop a deep understanding of the product vision and business objectives Establish initial platform architecture and development standards Deliver foundational technical design documentation Set up development and deployment environments 60 Days In Deliver core platform components or MVP foundation Validate key architectural decisions through working production-grade code Establish CI/CD pipelines and operational workflows Demonstrate early platform functionality 90 Days In Present a clear long-term technical roadmap for platform evolution Deliver a stable platform foundation ready for feature expansion Establish governance standards for future contributors Demonstrate measurable progress toward production readiness Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Delivery of production-ready platform foundation Stability and reliability of core system architecture Reduction of architectural rework and technical debt Platform scalability readiness Engineering velocity enabled by strong foundational design Why You’ll Love Working Here: At Fulfillment IQ, we don’t just build supply chain solutions. We build careers, friendships, and unforgettable experiences. We believe in giving our senior technical leaders real ownership, real influence, and the opportunity to shape platforms that power real-world logistics operations. As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. Here’s what makes working with us a rewarding experience: Work That Matters Build systems that directly impact global commerce and supply chain performance. Career Growth That Matters We invest in mentorship, leadership development, learning budgets, and long-term career growth. Flexibility to Thrive We support remote and hybrid work models by offering multiple office locations to help you perform at your best. We Celebrate You From team wins to work anniversaries, we recognize impact, celebrate milestones and reward performance. A Collaborative Culture Work alongside talented engineers, product leaders, and award-winning domain experts who value ownership, transparency, and high standards. Perks you’ll appreciate: Employee Health: Comprehensive health and dental coverage for you and your family Time Off: Competitive paid time off and flexible leave policies Retirement: Retirement savings programs and employer contributions Professional Growth: Dedicated learning and development budget Flexible Work: Remote and hybrid work options Perks: Equipment allowances, internet reimbursements, business travel coverage, and employee stock options (ESOP), where applicable. Community Engagement: Team events, meetups, and company offsites Life at Fulfillment IQ: Fulfillment IQ is a people-first company built in trust, collaboration, and ownership. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing workplace. Learn More About Us: Website: fulfillmentiq.com LinkedIn: Fulfillment IQ Spotify: eCom Logistics Podcast Spotify YouTube: eCom Logistics Podcast YouTube