Lead Engineer - API

At the National Rugby League (NRL), we’re incredibly proud of our game and the impact it has on players, fans, and communities across Australia and the Pacific. Rugby League is an inclusive sport for everyone, and our workplace reflects that we are inclusive, celebrate diversity, and strive to create a culture where all people feel they belong. Rugby League brings people together both on and off the field, with our broadcasts consistently ranking among the most‑watched programs nationwide.

As the NRL strengthens its digital and technology foundations, we’re seeking a Lead Engineer - API to lead the platforms that connect our products, data, and experiences. This role is about building scalable, secure APIs that support how fans engage with the game today and into the future.

About The Role

This is a hands‑on API engineering role at the heart of the NRL’s digital ecosystem. You’ll be responsible for the design, delivery and ongoing improvement of the API platforms that underpin the NRL’s critical technology assets and fan‑facing experiences. This role oversees the build, integration, optimisation and security of key API services, ensuring they are reliable, scalable and enabling product and full‑stack teams to deliver features at speed with confidence

In The Role You Will

• Lead the design and development of scalable, secure API platforms that power web, mobile, and partner experiences for millions of NRL fans
• Define and evolve API architecture and strategy, including RESTful and GraphQL APIs, API gateways, authentication, and integration patterns
• Ensure API performance, reliability, and security, with selective oversight of mobile experience considerations where they impact API design and consumption
• Lead and mentor 2 direct reports (Backend API Engineer and Senior Mobile App Engineer), setting clear engineering standards, review practices, and quality expectations
• Oversee API‑led development for critical technology assets including NRL Account, Content & Archive, and Data platforms, working closely with full‑stack teams
• Collaborate with product, UX/UI, platform, and full‑stack engineers to deliver well‑integrated solutions using CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation

Ideally you will have:

• 7+ years of API‑focused engineering experience, with some exposure to mobile platforms, and 3+ years in technical leadership roles
• Strong expertise in API development including RESTful and GraphQL APIs, API gateways, authentication (OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect), and microservices‑based architectures
• Working knowledge of mobile platforms or cross‑platform frameworks (e.g. React Native or native iOS/Android) to effectively support and guide mobile engineers
• Experience delivering high‑traffic, consumer‑facing platforms, with a strong focus on backend scalability, reliability, and security
• Solid understanding of API performance optimisation, versioning, and governance, with awareness of how APIs are consumed by mobile and web clients
• Experience working in cloud environments (AWS preferred) and mentoring engineers in collaborative, agile, cross‑functional teams

Whilst we look for experience, we also look for people who share the same beliefs as our organisation - we are UNITED, POSITIVE, INCLUSIVE & DISCIPLINED. Should you meet most of the criteria and share our beliefs, please apply.

The NRL is a child-safe organisation committed to providing a safe place for all children to learn and have fun. We have strong recruitment procedures to make sure the safest and most suitable people work with us and require all applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment, a process that will include, but is not limited to comprehensive reference checks, an identity check, “Working with Children” checks and/or national criminal history checks.