Director, Platform Development

Versant Media’s Data Platforms team is the central data store across the enterprise. We unify disparate systems into a secure, well-governed, real-time data environment that powers downstream products, analytics, and content delivery experiences.We are seeking a Director, Platform Development to lead the design, buildout, and evolution of our modern data platform. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who is equally comfortable writing production code, setting architectural direction, and managing a small but growing team. In the near term, this role will be a key individual contributor responsible for building foundational platform capabilities. Over time, the focus will shift toward people leadership, planning, and execution management as the team scales.This role reports to the VP of Data Platforms and is expected to act as a technical and operational anchor for the organization.ResponsibilitiesLead the design and implementation of core backend services and data platform components using Node.js and TypeScriptEstablish and evolve platform architecture, design patterns, and engineering standardsOwn and triage intake requests, balancing short-term delivery with long-term platform healthPartner closely with governance, analytics, and downstream consumers to ensure the platform supports:Scalable data ingestion and access patternsLakehouse-style architecturesELT pipelinesMetadata, lineage, and governance requirementsBuild and maintain CI/CD pipelines that enable safe, repeatable, and observable deploymentsSet expectations and best practices around:Object-oriented design and proven design patternsTest-driven development (TDD) and strong automated test coverageSecure development lifecycle (SDL) principlesHire, mentor, and manage engineers as the team growsConduct code and design reviews, providing clear technical guidanceCollaborate effectively in a matrixed enterprise environment with both legacy systems and modern platformsGradually transition from primary IC to people and execution leadership as the platform maturesDeep foundation in software engineering fundamentals, including:Object-oriented programmingDesign patternsAPI and service designSolid understanding of data engineering concepts, including:Lakehouse architecturesELT pipelinesData governance, metadata, and lineageExperience building modular or microservice-based systemsDemonstrated experience leading or mentoring engineers (formal people management experience preferred, but not required)Strong commitment to code quality, testing, and automationHands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and modern DevOps practicesComfortable operating with a high degree of ownership in a lean, fast-moving environmentStrong communicator who can translate between technical and non-technical stakeholdersNice to HaveExperience with ML platforms or services (e.g., Databricks, AWS Bedrock)Familiarity with analytics and BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, or similar)Experience working in media, streaming, or large-scale enterprise environmentsPrior experience modernizing or integrating legacy systems into cloud-native platformsAdditional Requirements:Fully Remote: This position has been designated as fully remote, meaning that the position is expected to contribute from a non-Versant worksite, most commonly an employee’s residence. This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. Salary range: $170,000 - $210,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible)We are accepting applications for this position on an ongoing basis. As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.For LA County and City Residents Only: VERSANT Media will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasona