Lead Full-stack Software Engineer (Director level, individual contributor)

The Lead Full-stack Software Engineer (Director level, individual contributor) provides hands-on technical leadership for the design, development, modernization, and support of John Hancock’s life insurance illustration ecosystem. This role combines deep software engineering expertise with strong US life insurance product knowledge across traditional, enforce, and new product blocks. The Lead Engineer guides engineers through complex product implementations, understands the legacy application and calculation landscape, and develops pragmatic, innovative approaches that accelerate transition to modern, modular, cloud-ready technology while protecting product accuracy, regulatory compliance, and business continuity.

Working within a dynamic, high-performing global team, the Lead Engineer partners with actuarial, product, architecture, quality engineering, operations, and delivery stakeholders to translate complex insurance needs into reliable technology outcomes. The role remains actively involved in solution design and coding while establishing engineering direction, improving delivery practices, mentoring team members, and ensuring the Illustration platform continues to support timely and accurate product launches.

Office location: Boston - USA (primary) or Toronto - Canada or Waterloo - Canada

Work arrangement: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days from Home); Remote working option is

not available

Position Responsibilities

Required Skills

• Lead the analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and production support of full-stack solutions across the Illustration application suite.
• Provide hands-on technical direction for implementing new and existing life insurance products, riders, calculation rules, illustration outputs, and related business capabilities.
• Translate complex actuarial specifications and business requirements into maintainable technical designs, reusable components, and clear delivery pl