Director, Software Engineering

ABOUT 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.WHAT WE EXPECT OF YOUSUMMARYWe 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.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESBackend 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 applications.API 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 optimization LeadershipMentor 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 metrics QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge Areas/ExperienceRequired8+ years of backend development experience with at least 3 years focused on API designStrong understanding of RESTful principles, HTTP protocols, and web standardsProven track record of designing scalable, maintainable APIsPreferredExperience with Apache Cayenne ORM framework (https://cayenne.apache.org/)Experience with Agrest REST API framework (https://agrest.io/)Knowledge 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 Flink Education/CertificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience Required 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 principles Additional SkillsExcellent problem-solving skills and attention to detailStrong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment CORE COMPETENCIESThese core competencies reflect the underlying values that are necessary to represent the National Hockey League:AccountabilityAdaptabilityCommunicationCritical ThinkingInclusionProfessionalismTeamwork & CollaborationThe NHL offers U.S. regular, full-time employees:Time to Recharge: Utilize our generous Paid Time Off (PTO) to focus on your well-being and ensure a healthy work/life balance. PTO includes paid holidays, vacation, personal and sick days, plus an extra day off for your birthday.Ability to Focus on your Health: Along with competitive salaries, the NHL offers comprehensive health benefits to employees and their eligible dependents effective on their first day with us - there is no waiting period. The NHL subsidizes a large portion of the health benefits costs, therefore your cost for medical, dental and vision coverage is minimal.We also offer our employees and members of their household access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support mental, physical, and financial health. In addition, employees have access to a digital wellness resource designed to improve health and happiness through courses in sleep, movement, and focus. These services are confidential and at no-cost to our employees.Childcare Leave: Because your family is the NHL family, employees are offered comprehensive Childcare Leave to welcome your new addition. The primary caregiver to the child is entitled to up to 12 weeks of paid Childcare Leave, at full pay, following the birth, adoption, or placement of a child.Employees that are not the primary caregiver to the child are entitled to up to 6 weeks of paid Childcare Leave, at full pay, which must be taken within the first 6 months following the birth, adoption, or placement of a child.Confidence in your Retirement Goals: Participate in the NHL's Savings Plan which includes a 401K(pre-tax and Roth options) plus non-elective (employer) contributions to keep your retirement goals on track.A Hybrid Work Schedule: The NHL recognizes the value of flexibility in work locations/schedules to help our employees balance work/life priorities. Hybrid work schedules are available for a majority of our roles.Our New Headquarters: Our new, state of the art, offices are located at One Manhattan West in Hudson Yards. When you're in the office, you can conduct meetings in one of our high-tech conference rooms, have lunch with a view or play in the game room. Employees can also enjoy New York's newest neighborhood that is home to more than 100 shops, culinary experiences, and public artwork.A Savings for Commuting: Participate in the NHL's pre-tax commuter benefit plan whichhelps offset the financial cost of traveling to and from our office.NHL Partner Rates: Unlock exclusive pricing from our Partners that include savings on travel, consumer goods and services, plus the NHL Store.Life at the NHL: In your first few days, you meet with your new teammates and the HR Team. You have the opportunity to learn more about the NHL and our workplace culture. Employees are invited to play hockey during our Tuesday Night Skate at Chelsea Piers, join our Employee Resource Groups and more. You are a part of our team and we encourage you to be your authentic self, adding to our dynamic workplace culture.SALARY RANGE:$160-180KActual base pay for a successful candidate will be determined based on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to: experience/training, market demands, and geographic location.When applying, please be sure to include a cover letter with your salary expectations for this role. We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity, however only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. NO EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS PLEASE.We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.Job Questions:This position will be based in our New York City Office. Are you willing and able to commute to our office for this position?If you are not currently living in the tri-state area, are you willing and able to relocate at your own expense for this position?Do you have the legal right to work in the United States?Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship to continue work in the United States?What are your salary expectations for this role? (NOTE: We are NOT asking for your current salary or salary history)How did you hear about this position? Where did you first see this role posted?How many years of experience do you have with Java backend development?How many years of experience do you have specifically with RESTful API design and development?Describe your experience with relational database design and data modeling. How many years have you been designing database schemas?Describe your approach to API versioning. What strategies have you implemented?Which API documentation tools have you used?Have you implemented OAuth 2.0 or SAML authentication in production APIs? Please briefly describe the use case.Have you worked with CDNs for API optimization? If yes, which ones and what optimization techniques did you implement?Have you mentored junior developers? If yes, for how long and in what capacity?What strategies would you use to optimize a slow-performing API endpoint that queries a MySQL database?