Guidewire Technical Lead

Job Description

Guidewire Technical Lead

The Opportunity

Zurich Canada is seeking a Guidewire Technical Lead to provide hands‑on technical leadership for the implementation, evolution, and ongoing management of our Guidewire‑based Policy and Claims Administration platforms, including PolicyCenter Cloud and ClaimCenter Cloud. Reporting to the Head of IT Core Platforms, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Zurich’s Guidewire strategy, guiding integration within the broader technology landscape, influencing complementary modules such as Jutro, and defining the roadmap for Guidewire initiatives across the organization.

What you will do

• Act as the technical authority and point of accountability for Guidewire platforms, ensuring stable, scalable, and well‑governed implementations across Zurich Canada.


• Provide hands‑on technical leadership and decision support to delivery teams, resolving complex design, configuration, and integration challenges without directly owning day‑to‑day development.


• Partner closely with Enterprise and Solution Architecture teams to translate target‑state architectures into executable design patterns, implementation standards, and delivery guardrails.


• Define and maintain Guidewire‑specific technical standards, patterns, and best practices, ensuring consistent adoption across internal teams and vendor partners.


• Guide the integration of Guidewire with Zurich’s broader technology ecosystem, including core platforms, digital channels, data, and external services, ensuring alignment with enterprise integration strategies.


• Own the technical roadmap for Guidewire capabilities, including platform upgrades, cloud optimization, use of modules such as Jutro, and adoption of new Guidewire features.


• Provide technical oversight across initiatives to proactively identify risks, dependencies, and cross‑program/project impacts related to Guidewire implementations.


• Collaborate with Cyber Security, DevOps, and Platform teams to ensure Guidewire solutions meet Zurich’s requirements for security, resiliency, performance, and operational readiness.


• Coach and mentor Guidewire developers and technical leads, raising overall platform maturity, code quality, and problem‑solving capability across teams.


• Serve as a key escalation point and trusted advisor for senior IT and business stakeholders on Guidewire‑related technical decisions, trade‑offs, and delivery outcomes.

Job Qualifications – What you bring to the table

• Bachelor’s Degree and 10+ years of progressive IT experience, including significant time delivering large‑scale enterprise platforms within complex, regulated environments.


• OR High School Diploma or equivalent and 15+ years of progressive IT experience, including significant time delivering large‑scale enterprise platforms within complex, regulated environments.


• OR Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice (associate degree) and 12+ years of progressive IT experience, delivering large‑scale enterprise platforms.

AND

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience with Guidewire platforms, including deep expertise in PolicyCenter Cloud and/or ClaimCenter Cloud implementations.


• Proven experience acting as a Technical Lead or Platform Lead for Guidewire initiatives, providing technical direction across multiple teams, vendors, and concurrent delivery streams.


• Strong understanding of Guidewire configuration, extension frameworks, data model, product model, and integration patterns, with the ability to guide design decisions without being the primary developer.


• Demonstrated experience integrating Guidewire with enterprise ecosystems, including digital front ends, data platforms, document management, billing and third‑party services.


• Experience working within defined enterprise architecture and governance models, collaborating effectively with Enterprise and Solution Architects.


• Solid knowledge of cloud‑native and SaaS delivery models, including CI/CD pipelines, environment, release planning, and operational readiness in a Guidewire Cloud context.


• Experience partnering with cross‑functional technology teams (DevOps, Cyber Security, QA, Data, Integration, infrastructure) to ensure non‑functional requirements are met.


• Proven ability to coach and mentor Guidewire developers and technical leads, elevating platform consistency, quality, and delivery maturity.


• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, communicating complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Preferred

• Experience with multiple Guidewire modules (e.g., Digital / Jutro, Reinsurance).


• Prior experience in P&C Insurance across both Commercial and Personal Lines.


• Exposure to multi‑vendor Guidewire delivery models and offshore / nearshore teams.


• Guidewire certifications (e.g., ACE, Developer, or Integration certifications).

Compensation

As required by local law, Zurich provides a reasonable compensation range of 110,000 – 160,000 CAD. Starting salaries may exceed this range based on skills and experience.

Our Culture

• We value Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB) and encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work.


• We offer a comprehensive health and benefits plan, competitive compensation, and a minimum of four weeks of vacation and four personal days per year.


• We support continuous improvement through training and development opportunities and encourage community involvement.


• We have been recognized as a Top Employer in Greater Toronto and have received an Insurance Business Canada 5‑Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.

About Us

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, serving customers worldwide. With over 650 employees across Canada, we provide commercial property‑casualty insurance solutions and risk management services. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and a barrier‑free environment for employees, customers, and partners.