Join the newest addition to the WNBA family as we bring professional women’s basketball to Canada! The Toronto Tempo is the WNBA’s 14th franchise and first Canadian team in the league. We are a team that unites and inspires everyone through our core values of integrity, growth, and joy. Our team is dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence both on and off the court. We are committed to empowering our players, engaging our fans, and making a positive impact in our community. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Data Engineer (Basketball Strategy) reporting to the Assistant General Manager/SVP Basketball Strategy to join our team as of January 2027.
Job Summary
The Data Engineer (Basketball Strategy) will build and maintain the data infrastructure behind our Basketball Strategy team. They will design the databases and pipelines that bring tracking, event, scouting, and performance data into one reliable, shared platform, so that analysts, coaches, and front office staff can trust and use the same data. They will build the foundation behind the Tempo's most important basketball decisions, including roster moves, health and performance plans, coaching strategy, and more. This role will report to the Assistant General Manager/SVP of Basketball Strategy and work side by side with data scientists, coaches, and basketball operations staff. This is a rare opportunity to help build the foundation of a WNBA expansion franchise and the league's first international team.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Design, build, and maintain cloud databases and data models that store basketball data in one shared, well-organized place.
- Create, maintain, and monitor data pipelines that ingest, clean, transform, and organize critical data from third-party providers, APIs, and internal sources.
- Optimize pipelines and data storage to handle large datasets.
- Build thorough data validation procedures, quality checks, and alerts to ensure data is of the highest quality.
- Reconcile inconsistencies across sources so that the data is accurate and consistent.
- Make data accessible: connect the database to analysis and reporting tools, including Python notebooks and dashboards, so staff can query and visualize data themselves.
- Work with key cross-department team members (front office executives, coaches, scouts, and others) to build products and implement feedback.
- Document pipelines, data definitions, and processes so that others can understand and maintain them.
- Keep up to date with emerging technologies like generative AI and integrate them into development workflows without using them as a crutch.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications/Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related field preferred.
- Minimum 2+ years of professional experience in data engineering, analytics engineering, or a closely related role required.
- Advanced SQL and Python skills preferred.
- Experience building data pipelines or data models, and a strong understanding of how databases and data warehouses are organized considered an asset.
- Experience working with data in a cloud environment (such as AWS, Databricks, or GCP).
- Experience with version control (Git) and a habit of writing clear, maintainable, documented code.
- Experience with dashboard tools such as Tableau or Power BI.
- Experience with Databricks, AWS, or comparable cloud data platforms.
- Experience with sports tracking or event data.
- Knowledge of the WNBA and professional basketball and a genuine interest in how data supports player evaluation, coaching, and strategy considered an asset.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and potential travel.
- Experience working in professional sports or collegiate athletics preferred.
- Must have a valid passport to travel within Canada and globally.
Required Key Competencies:
- Attention to Detail – Consistently delivers accurate and reliable work while managing ticket inventory, reporting, and event setup.
- Organization – Effectively plans, prioritizes, and manages multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Adaptability – Maintains a positive attitude and performs effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
- Problem Solving – Identifies issues quickly and develops practical solutions while minimizing operational impact.
- Communication – Demonstrates strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Customer Service Orientation – Committed to providing exceptional support to fans, partners, and internal stakeholders.
- Collaboration – Builds positive working relationships and contributes to a strong team culture.
- Confidentiality – Handles sensitive customer and business information with discretion and professionalism.
- Initiative – Proactively identifies opportunities to improve processes and operational efficiencies.
- Accountability – Takes ownership of responsibilities and consistently follows through on commitments.
Why Join Us
- Be part of the historic launch and growth of Canada's first WNBA franchise.
- Work in a dynamic and collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Opportunity to make a significant impact on the growth of women’s sports in Canada.
How to Apply:
Please submit your resume, cover letter, and any relevant portfolio materials as one file via LinkedIn. We are accepting applications until Monday November 9th at 9:00 AM EST.
The salary range for the Data Engineer role is between $85,000 – 95,000 CAD annually based on candidate skillsets.
All applications submitted to the Tempo are always reviewed in detail by our HR team. In certain aspects of the hiring process artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used, specifically for resume screening. These tools support our team and are used to help bring relevant criteria to the foreground and do not replace human judgment. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws. We regularly review these tools to help prevent bias or discrimination.
Toronto Tempo is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable laws.
