---
title: 'Freelance Backend Software Engineer at Beyond Sports'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/freelance-backend-software-engineer-beyond-sports-budapest-g177mhaapp05'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Freelance Backend Software Engineer at Beyond Sports

- **Company:** Beyond Sports
- **Location:** Budapest, Hungary
- **Employment:** temporary
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-08-24
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/wearebeyondsports/dc07a4da-aacd-4bd2-9408-3f5227b0e489

## Job description

SENIOR BACKEND JAVA ENGINEER (FREELANCE CONTRACT) – HUNGARY

Contract Length: 3+ Months Start Date: ASAP Day Rate: 120,000 HUF – 180,000 HUF per day Location: Hungary

## About the Role

Beyond Sports is looking for an experienced Senior Backend Java Engineer to support the development, scaling, and modernisation of our high-performance backend systems and cloud infrastructure.

This is a hands-on freelance contract opportunity for a senior engineer with deep Java expertise, strong cloud experience, and a passion for building resilient, scalable systems. You’ll work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to refactor core microservices, improve system architecture, and ensure low-latency integrations across our web and mobile platforms.

## Key Responsibilities

- Design, refactor, and maintain scalable backend microservices and REST APIs using Java and Spring Boot
- Re-architect existing backend systems to optimize for maintainability, reliability, and throughput
- Implement secure identity, secrets management, and authentication standards across cloud environments
- Integrate third-party systems, including real-time sports data feeds, video streams, and commentary providers
- Deploy and manage containerised services using Docker and Kubernetes
- Provision and maintain cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform
- Build, automate, and manage deployment workflows using modern CI/CD pipelines
- Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize application and database performance
- Participate in technical planning, architectural discussions, and peer code reviews
- Produce clear, maintainable technical documentation for APIs and core backend systems

Required Skills & Experience

Essential

- Strong commercial contracting experience with Java and Spring Boot
- Proven background building, deploying, and maintaining applications in production cloud environments (AWS or Azure)
- Hands-on experience with containerisation and orchestration using Docker and Kubernetes
- Expertise in designing and building secure, high-traffic RESTful APIs
- Practical experience writing Infrastructure as Code using Terraform
- Solid working knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, DynamoDB, Cosmos DB)
- Deep understanding of cloud security fundamentals (IAM, secrets management, key vaults)
- Experience setting up and maintaining CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab CI, Bitbucket Pipelines, or ArgoCD)

Desirable

- Experience with event-driven architectures using Apache Kafka or similar messaging systems
- Prior exposure to performance tuning and cloud cost-optimisation strategies
- Strong automated testing practices (unit, integration, and regression testing)
- Understanding of cloud networking components (VPCs/VNets, API Gateways)

## About Beyond Sports

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Beyond Sports transforms raw sports tracking data into real-time 3D animated broadcasts, AI-driven commentary, and immersive fan experiences.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Acquired by Sony in November 2022)
- **Headquarters**: Alkmaar, Netherlands
- **Founded**: 2014
- **Founders**: Sander J. Schouten (CEO & Co-Founder) and Nicolaas Westerhof (CTO & Co-Founder)

## Core Business
- Primary industry/industries: Sports Technology, Data Visualization, Broadcast Media
- Target customers: B2B — sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL), broadcasters, media partners, brands, and data rightsholders
- Mission or purpose statement: To revolutionize the sports industry through cutting-edge technology and AI-driven insights, reimagining how sports are consumed by fans worldwide.

## Products & Services
- **Data Processing Engine**: Ingests and merges multiple raw tracking data streams (often incomplete or single-point) to produce a consistent, production-ready format. Compatible with any output including the Metaverse, media partners, and digital platforms.
- **Data Visualization Platform**: An Emmy Award-winning visualization engine that creates real-time 3D animations from enhanced tracking data, powering alternative broadcasts (e.g., "NHL Hockeyverse"), performance analysis, and post-match programs.
- **Creative & Storytelling Services**: Co-creates immersive narratives, animated broadcasts, AI commentary, and fan-first content for apps, gaming platforms, and branded worlds that enhance fan engagement and loyalty.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (acquired by Sony in 2022 for an undisclosed amount)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised $2.36M prior to acquisition; now a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Sony Group (parent company, via Hawk-Eye and Pulselive), NFL, NBA, NHL
- **Growth Signals**: Emmy Award-winning technology; live broadcasts on gaming platforms as a next major goal; integrated with Sony’s Hawk-Eye tracking system and Pulselive digital services; team of 50+ employees representing 17 nationalities

## Competitive Advantages
- **Sony Ecosystem Integration**: Unique access to Hawk-Eye’s tracking data and Pulselive’s distribution, creating a vertically integrated pipeline from data capture to fan-facing content.
- **Proprietary Data Enhancement**: Proprietary engine that validates, enhances, and unifies raw tracking data into complete, lifelike 3D skeletons — a technical moat that competitors struggle to replicate.
- **Creative & Tech Fusion**: In-house 3D artists, engineers, and storytellers working side-by-side, enabling rapid production of broadcast-ready, immersive experiences that are both technically advanced and creatively compelling.

## Strategic Focus
- **Live Gaming Integration**: Pivoting to bring live match broadcasts onto gaming platforms, creating a new category of interactive sports consumption.
- **Deepening Sony Synergy**: Leveraging Hawk-Eye’s data and Pulselive’s digital services to scale globally and offer end-to-end solutions for leagues and broadcasters.
- **Expanding Sport Verticals**: Building on existing NFL, NBA, and NHL partnerships to enter new sports and markets, with a focus on direct-to-consumer experiences.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Environment**: Described as “more like a living room than a corporate space,” with an open, modern office overlooking canals in Alkmaar. High value placed on diversity — 17 nationalities among 50+ team members.
- **Workspace & Perks**: In-office role with two adjacent offices; ping-pong, corn-hole, darts, video games, and board games; freshly prepared hot meals three times a week by an in-house chef, plus fresh fruit, snacks, and drinks.
- **Growth & Development**: Access to learning courses; hands-on work with industry-leading data technology on high-impact projects for world-renowned sports organizations.
- **Wellness**: Company fitness card for a nearby gym; ergonomic work equipment provided from day one.
- **Team Events**: Regular Friday drinks, project watch parties, and an annual company trip.

## Sources
1. [beyondsports.nl](https://www.beyondsports.nl/)
2. [beyondsports.nl/careers-page](https://www.beyondsports.nl/careers-page)
3. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/beyond-sports)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/beyond-sports)
5. [sony.com](https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/technology/stories/entries/20240411/beyondsports/)

## Other roles at Beyond Sports

- [Senior Project Manager 12 month FTC](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-project-manager-12-month-ftc-beyond-sports-alkmaar-32bhbhe3wg39) — Alkmaar, Netherlands
- [Frontend React Native Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/frontend-react-native-engineer-beyond-sports-budapest-f66nt32nrgpq) — Budapest, Hungary
- [Senior React Native Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-react-native-engineer-beyond-sports-budapest-f79ahe8zx8cy) — Budapest, Hungary
- [HR Advisor](https://feeny.ai/job/hr-advisor-beyond-sports-basingstoke-d3566wcjym8m) — Basingstoke, United Kingdom
- [Marketing / Business Development intern](https://feeny.ai/job/marketing-business-development-intern-beyond-sports-alkmaar-mh34vrchcb7e) — Alkmaar, Netherlands
- [Senior Core Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-core-software-engineer-beyond-sports-melbourne-d2zbgh0vnssc) — Melbourne, Australia
- [Freelance Unity Developer](https://feeny.ai/job/freelance-unity-developer-beyond-sports-alkmaar-pjtdaq5cgahc) — Alkmaar, Netherlands
- [Senior Product Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-designer-beyond-sports-alkmaar-6wbkdg6zswbg) — Alkmaar, Netherlands
- [Midweight Product Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/midweight-product-designer-beyond-sports-alkmaar-0dy10gfkbkar) — Alkmaar, Netherlands
- [3D Technical Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/3d-technical-artist-beyond-sports-alkmaar-rt0xwkc10k9g) — Alkmaar, Netherlands