Uber is currently working to expand its more than 60 person team in Toronto, with plans to double its size in the next few months.
The company is hiring for a number of roles spanning design, data science and product management, with a heavy focus on engineering. Uber currently has 25 roles open for its Toronto location.
“Canada is a hotspot for tech talent globally, and our Toronto team has led the strategy and development of many important products and platforms.”
With the hires, Uber is also planning to create two new teams operating out of Toronto: Rider Core, which will manage, upgrade and build core product experiences and infrastructure that powers the Uber app, and Uber Memberships, which will build new ways for Uber users to connect with brands through the platform.
“Canada is a hotspot for tech talent globally, and our Toronto team has led the strategy and development of many important products and platforms like Uber Commute and Uber Eats Ads,” said Neil Barakat, Uber’s Toronto Tech site lead, in a statement shared with BetaKit. “These projects have helped to evolve how Uber operates in communities around the world. We’re excited about the opportunity to expand and build new local teams and grow our imprint in the Canadian tech ecosystem.”
Uber launched its Toronto Tech Hub in late 2019, promising to create hundreds of new tech and engineering jobs within Canada more broadly. The doubling of the Toronto team in the coming months would put Uber’s team in the city around 120 employees. The Toronto location houses a number of Uber teams, including operations, marketing, public policy, sales, Uber for business, and engineering. The site is part of a commitment from Uber in 2018 to spend $200 million CAD, over five years, to expand its tech presence in Canada.
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Toronto was also formerly home to a part of Uber’s ATG team and research and development (R&D) lab. BetaKit first reported in December Uber ATG’s Toronto R&D lab would not be integrated into a new joint organization created following Aurora’s acquisition of Uber ATG. Offers had been made to the majority of ATG’s employees, however, Toronto’s ATG R&D team was not included as Aurora does not plan to have a presence in Canada. Sources familiar with the decision told BetaKit at the time the Toronto employees were not officially laid off, but given 60 days to apply for different roles within Uber.
When reached for comment about the current status of the ATG employees a spokesperson for Uber told BetaKit, “In December, employees were eligible to apply for roles within Uber that match their skills and experience. For those who did not find a role, they were offered a fair severance package.” They added that the roles currently open for application are new ones for the Uber team.
The Toronto team and lab played a significant role in Uber ATG’s R&D efforts. It was launched in May 2017 and run by University of Toronto professor Raquel Urtasun, who served as head of ATG R&D and its chief scientist.
When reached for comment about Uber ATG, a Uber spokesperson emphasized that Uber remained committed to Toronto, pointing to the broader Toronto Tech Hub. “With its first-class public education system, smart immigration policies, and exceptional quality of life, Canada is a hotspot for tech talent globally,” they stated in December.
Uber’s Canadian Tech Hub team has developed products and features that help drive Uber’s car and food delivery business operations both in Canada and around the world. Some of those features include Uber Commute and part of Uber’s ads infrastructure.
Applications for 25 roles in Toronto are currently open. The company is also hiring for some non-engineering roles in other Canadian cities where it has smaller operations, including Montréal and Calgary.