Director, Software Engineering - NHL

OverviewABOUT THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Founded in 1917, the National Hockey League (NHL) is the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. With more than 1500 employees across the US and Canada, the NHL is a global sports and entertainment organization committed to building healthy and vibrant communities using the sport of hockey. At the NHL, we are looking for dynamic, energetic and impactful individuals who are committed to doing the same by sharing in our philosophy that Hockey is for Everyone – and inclusion belongs on the ice, in the locker rooms, boardrooms and stands.ResponsibilitiesWe are seeking an experienced Director of Software Engineering with strong expertise in API design and relational database modeling to join our team. You will be responsible for designing and implementing high-performance backend services and RESTful APIs that power our consumer-facing and internal applications. This role requires both technical excellence and leadership skills to mentor team members and drive architectural decisions.Backend DevelopmentDevelop high-performance, scalable backend services using JavaWrite clean, maintainable, and well-documented codeDesign and implement caching strategies for optimal performanceBuild robust error handling and logging mechanismsEnsure proficiency in unit and integration testingDeep understanding of native mobile and web multi-tiered, distributed applicationsAPI Design & DevelopmentDesign and implement RESTful APIs following industry best practices and standardsCreate comprehensive API specifications using OpenAPI/SwaggerEnsure API consistency, versioning strategies, and backward compatibilityImplement and integrate OAuth 2.0 and SAML-based authenticationEstablish and maintain API design guidelines and patterns for the engineering teamUnderstanding how to leverage CDNs for API scale/optimization (e.g., Cloudflare)Carefully craft API inputs/outputs to maximize CDN cache hit ratiosUtilize API testing frameworks to ensure reliability and performanceExperience with API performance monitoring and optimizationLeadershipMentor junior developers on API design principles and data modeling best practicesParticipate in code reviews and provide constructive feedbackLead technical design discussions and architectural decisionsContribute to technical documentation and knowledge sharingCollaborate with operational counterparts on observability metricsQualificationsKnowledge Areas/Experience Required: 8+ years of backend development experience with at least 3 years focused on API designStrong understanding of RESTful principles, protocols, and web standardsProven track record of designing scalable, maintainable APIsPreferredExperience with Apache Cayenne ORM frameworkExperience with Agrest REST API frameworkKnowledge of API gateway patterns and service mesh conceptsExperience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Bamboo, Kubernetes)Experience with data processing and analysis frameworks like Apache Spark Data Frame API, DFLibFamiliarity with event-driven architecturesContributions to open-source projectsExperience programming/scripting with PythonExperience with cloud platforms (AWS), S3, Kinesis, DynamoApache FlinkEducation/CertificationsBachelor/'s degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experienceRequired Technical SkillsJava: Strong proficiency in Java development with experience building enterprise-grade applicationsMySQL: Hands-on experience with MySQL (v. 8.0 and above), including performance optimization and query tuningData Modeling: Proven experience with relational database design and data modeling best practicesGit: Proficiency with Git version control, including branching strategies, merge conflict resolution, and collaborative workflowsMaven: Strong experience with Maven for build automation, dependency management, and project lifecycle managementBamboo: Experience with Atlassian Bamboo for continuous integration and deployment pipelinesJAX-RS: Expertise in building RESTful web services using JAX-RSJackson API: Proficiency with Jackson for JSON processing and serializationPOJO: Experience working with Plain Old Java Objects and understanding of object-oriented design principlesAdditional SkillsExcellent problem-solving skills and attention to detailStrong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environmentBenefits and CultureCORE COMPETENCIES reflect the NHL values: Accountability, Adaptability, Communication, Critical Thinking, Inclusion, Professionalism, Teamwork & Collaboration. The NHL offers U.S. regular, full-time employees many benefits including Paid Time Off, health benefits from day one, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), mental/physical health resources, childcare leave, retirement savings program, hybrid work schedules, relocation to One Manhattan West, commuting benefits, partner rates, and opportunities to engage with the NHL culture.SALARY RANGE: $160-180K. Actual base pay will be determined based on experience, market demands, and location. When applying, please include a cover letter with salary expectations. No emails or phone calls. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class. #J-18808-Ljbffr

Created: 2025-09-26