Director of Data Platform & Engineering

The New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) is a not-for-profit service and research organization that operates in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.  CJA is the City’s main pretrial services agency, combining operations, pilot projects, and research under one roof.  CJA utilizes procedural justice practices to provide pretrial services to over 100,000 arrested annually in New York City. Information collected about these arrestees and subsequent case processing is maintained in the agency’s internal and externally shared database systems, which are used to conduct descriptive and evaluation research on arrestee characteristics, case processing and court outcomes, and on issues and potential reforms to criminal justice policy in New York City. CJA’s programs operate in the criminal courts and detention facilities 24 hours a day seven days a week within the 5 boroughs of NYC, employing over 300 employees, citywide.

NYCJA’s Information Technology team provides strategic vision, leadership, and innovative solutions so that CJA’s internal and external stakeholders have the trusted data and applications they need to deliver high-quality IT solutions to support pretrial services and research. Our data platform powers operational decision-making that impacts individuals, programs, and city-wide strategy. Our systems and platform powers daily operations, and we are expanding our capabilities into a scalable cloud environment to support real-time data needs and long-term analytics and research.

The Data Platform and Engineering Team designs, delivers and sustains operation of a secure, scalable and high-performing enterprise data ecosystem supporting mission-critical operations, analytics and strategic decision-making. 

This position serves as the senior technical authority and program leader for enterprise data platform architecture, engineering and governance within NYCJA. Reporting to the IT Executive Director, this position plays a pivotal role in shaping data platform adoption and in driving data insights and innovation. 

• →Lead the design, delivery, and operation of CJA’s enterprise Data Platform (Data Hub) (Azure Gov stack, pipelines, storage, analytics, and access layers), including architecture, reliability, security, and cost management supporting mission-critical, real-time and analytical workloads
• →Ensure secure, reliable and scalable data solutions that support operations, programs and strategic decision making
• →Define and enforce data architecture, engineering standards, and governance (quality, lineage, access, stewardship)
• →Develop and oversee platform delivery strategy and execution across multiple workstreams, balancing operational stability, modernization and stakeholder needs
• →Build, lead and develop the Data Platform Engineering team, including hiring, mentoring, with full accountability for delivery, platform health, standards, and stakeholder outcomes
• →Partner with executive leadership and stakeholders to translate business needs into data platform solutions
• →Advocate for platform health, investment, and long-term direction
• →Champion NYCJA’s values and principles.

We are seeking a hands-on technical leader with deep experience building and operating enterprise data platforms in regulated, mission-critical environments. This role is responsible for leading and growing the Data Platform & Engineering team, with full accountability for delivery, platform health, technical standards, and stakeholder outcomes.

The ideal candidate brings proven experience owning data platforms at scale, spanning architecture, data engineering, and operations. A strong background in Azure data services such as Data Factory, ADLS, and Synapse or equivalent cloud platforms is essential, along with experience working with real-time and operational data systems, not just batch analytics.

Success in this role requires a deep understanding of data governance, including data quality, lineage, and access control, particularly within regulated environments such as CJIS or similar frameworks. The candidate must be able to lead and scale high-performing technical teams, driving accountability and consistent delivery while fostering a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.

This position also demands strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex business needs into practical, scalable solutions. The role operates across platform, application, and analytics boundaries, requiring close collaboration with Software Engineering teams and business stakeholders. The right candidate is equally comfortable setting strategic direction and executing against it, balancing long-term platform evolution with immediate operational demands in a complex and evolving environment

CJA is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, parental status, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

CJA is seeking applicants who pursue professional development pathways by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining professional networks, and engaging with professional associations