Best tech option in Canada - Software Development Lead Shopify Employee Review

5.0
Jan 21, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Perks (great office spaces, lunches, etc...). Respectable company that is reasonably well known in eastern Canada. High autonomy and high trust if your values align with the company. Brilliant people that care a lot. The company is much larger now than when I joined. Many things have changed. Your manager will really dictate your experience, which roles up to director/VP. There are many great teams working on challenging problems.

Cons

Company was always product focused, with development skill being the highest valued. This is shifting in favour of product management. Product teams report up through general managers, most of which were product managers. Many teams are still striking an okay balance, but power is definitely shifting towards product. Estimates are no longer WAGs. Departments are inconsistent. Offices are inconsistent. You will be fine if you thrive on chaos and learning the differences. Is not for everyone though. Many managers/directors are inexperienced. Growing company with good opportunities for people, but you may end up under someone who you need to handle things they are not ready for. Gives you the opportunity to try more senior responsibilities before they are yours, but if you are expecting a clear vision you will be disappointed.

Explore other reviews about Shopify

5.0
Jun 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Remote first culture. If you want freedom of location and a company to truly mean and support it - this is the place.

Cons

Constant change. Nothing to hold on to in this role, compensation, KPI's, tools all change every quarter.

2.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Kind and talented co-workers - Generous AI token spend - Fairly transparent company (has been getting less transparent over the years) - Lots of opportunity for impact

Cons

- Product management discipline is quite lacking since the new CTO joined - Microsoft culture is adding more chaos and stress, and causing projects to actually go slower - Managers are afraid to tell the truth to Mikhail about the loopholes in engineering; they just want to look good, so they rush their teams to ship crap - Top engineering leaders are moving out of management roles or leaving the company - Tobi used to be far more involved in ensuring a high engineering bar, but seems to have handed over the reins to the new Microsoft regime

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