Senior C++ Engineer, Fixed Term - Toronto

WHY DEPT®? We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating. Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients' problems, no matter where you are in the world. This is a 3 month fixed term salaried contract, located in Ontario Canada. Preferably in Toronto. About You: We're looking for a Senior Linux C/C++ Engineer to join a focused remediation effort on a long-running production platform serving a global financial news and data client. This is a temporary senior engagement with real ownership: you'll be working directly inside a complex, unfamiliar legacy codebase, identifying and resolving security vulnerabilities, upgrading components, and supporting a broader re-platforming effort. A key portion of this role will be working GenAI coding tools to accelerate these upgrades. The right person for this role isn't fazed by legacy code they didn't write. They're energized by the challenge of understanding it, diagnosing what's wrong, and fixing it properly. Persistence, methodical debugging, and the ability to navigate ambiguity are what will make you successful here. What You’ll Do: • Analyze existing Linux-based C/C++ services to identify security vulnerabilities and stability risks • Remediate vulnerabilities and apply secure coding practices across critical production services • Upgrade legacy components and dependencies, ensuring stability is maintained throughout • Support re-platforming activities as NewsEdge functionality is migrated to compliant, modern infrastructure • Work closely with application and platform teams to manage dependencies and coordinate changes safely • Contribute to testing and validation to ensure remediation work doesn't introduce regressions What You Bring: • 5+ years of hands-on C/C++ development experience in Linux environments — this is the core of the role • Proven ability to work in unfamiliar, underdocumented legacy codebases — reading and reasoning about code you didn't write • Experience with security vulnerability remediation: identifying, triaging, and resolving issues in production systems • Comfortable with dependency and component upgrades in complex, tightly coupled systems • Proven ability to work effectively in GenAI coding tools. This client uses Claude but any tool is fine. • Strong debugging skills — methodical, patient, and effective under pressure • Experience with stabilisation and re-platforming efforts in live production environments • Secure coding practices and awareness of common vulnerability classes (e.g. memory safety, injection, buffer overflows) • Strong communicator — able to document findings, explain risk clearly, and flag blockers early The anticipated hourly range for this position is $58-70 hourly. Rate is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we're flexible. WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU: DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s lived experience, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step. DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S. We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work. Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place. DEPT® is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture. Learn more about DEPT® DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine. We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us. Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here. #LI-Remote