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About the Role

Empire Life is seeking a Software Developer to join the Back Office Development team, focusing on transforming core operational systems from legacy COBOL and Easytrieve mainframe logic into a modern, cloud-native architecture using Incremental Modernization Strategy patterns.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical discovery and code analysis by reading COBOL programs, Easytrieve report scripts, and JCL flows to reverse-engineer core business rules and data pipelines.
• Develop target architecture and services by writing clean, scalable microservices/APIs in modern languages (e.g., Java/Kotlin, C#, Python, or Go) and decoupling batch workflows into event streams (Kafka).
• Implement parity testing and interception by setting up API routing gateways, feature flags, and parallel shadow testing to validate new services against legacy output.
• Execute implementation and cleanup by switching live transactions and safely decommissioning legacy system functions.

Requirements

• 5+ years of work experience in back office software development.
• Practical working knowledge and expertise in application modernization.
• Completion of a University degree, college diploma, technical training, and/or equivalent experience.
• Experience with reverse engineering and legacy logic (COBOL/Easytrieve) analysis.
• Deep understanding of incremental modernization patterns.
• Hands-on expertise in modern target languages and frameworks (Java/Kotlin, Golang, Python, C#).
• Expertise in data layer migration from hierarchical/flat formats to relational or NoSQL stores.
• Working knowledge of mainframe ecosystems (JCL, CICS, VSAM, DB2, packed-decimal).
• Mastery of test-driven validation, automated parity, and parallel testing.
• Ability to map monolithic batch/transactional workflows to event-driven architectures.
• Experience with Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and monolith decomposition.
• Experience with modern CI/CD pipelines.
• Possess a risk management and defensive modernization mindset.
• GCP and/or Microsoft Azure experience for modernization is an asset.
• Insurance or investment experience is an asset.
• English language proficiency is required for communication across Canada.

Skills

• COBOL
• Easytrieve
• JCL
• Java
• Kotlin
• C#
• Python
• Go
• Kafka
• API routing gateways
• Feature flags
• Parallel shadow testing
• Hierarchical data formats
• Flat data formats
• Relational databases
• NoSQL databases
• CICS
• VSAM
• DB2
• Packed-decimal
• Test-driven validation
• Automated parity testing
• Parallel testing
• Event-driven architectures
• Domain-Driven Design (DDD)
• Monolith decomposition
• CI/CD pipelines
• GCP
• Microsoft Azure

Location

• Remote - Ontario

Work Type

• Remote
• Permanent
• Full-time

Experience Level

• Senior
• 5+ years

Education Level

• University degree
• College diploma
• Technical training
• Equivalent experience

Salary/Compensations

• $106,904 - $156,904

Benefits

• Competitive salaries with annual pay increases
• Annual bonus program
• Competitive uncapped commission (for sales positions)
• Comprehensive employer-funded benefits package starting from day one
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health and dental insurance
• Generous health account
• Flexible work arrangements
• Annual allotment of personal health days
• Four weeks annual vacation from hire date
• Defined contribution pension plan with generous employer matching
• Top up programs for parental leave
• Top up programs for compassionate leave
• Employer-sponsored wellness programs
• Employer-sponsored recognition programs
• Cash employee referral program

About the Company

• Empire Life is building a dedicated modernization development team to transform core operational systems from legacy COBOL and Easytrieve mainframe logic into a modern, cloud-native architecture.
• Empire Life is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
• We celebrate diversity, are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and welcome everyone to participate in our application process.
• We encourage those of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, even if you don't believe you meet each unique qualification outlined.
• Applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.
• Empire Life welcomes applications from people with disabilities and disabled people.
• Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the screening and selection process.
• Visit https://www.empire.ca/workatempire to learn more about working at Empire Life.

Equal Opportunity

• Empire life is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
• We celebrate diversity, are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and welcome everyone to participate in our application process.
• We encourage those of all backgrounds and experiences to apply, even if you don't believe you meet each unique qualification outlined.
• Applicants will receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.
• Empire Life welcomes applications from people with disabilities and disabled people.
• Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the screening and selection process.
• If you need this job posting in an alternative format or have any accessibility questions, please contact recruitment@empire.ca.