DraftKings

Lead Software Engineer, Backend

DraftKings$136K — $170K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years in object-oriented backend development with C# or Java.
  • Expertise in OOP principles, design patterns, and backend architecture.
  • Experience in architecting and scaling distributed systems on AWS or GCP.
  • Deep knowledge in developing automated test suites (unit, integration, performance).
  • Proven mentorship abilities and experience leading code/design reviews.
  • Proactive in driving continuous improvement and engineering best practices.

Responsibilities

  • Architect and maintain secure, scalable systems for high-impact applications.
  • Oversee the full development lifecycle from feature architecture to implementation.
  • Write high-performance, reliable, and well-tested code.
  • Enforce best practices in code quality and system performance.
  • Debug and resolve complex production issues quickly and efficiently.
  • Collaborate with Product, Design, and Engineering to meet strategic goals.
  • Mentor engineers to enhance skills and performance.
  • Shape the team's technical direction and foster a culture of ownership.

Benefits

  • Guidance through any necessary gaming license process.
  • Access to performance-based bonuses and equity options.
  • Supportive work culture centered on continuous learning.
  • Opportunities for mentorship and career development.
Full Job Description
As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll lead the charge in building scalable systems that power real-time experiences for millions of customers. You'll architect robust solutions, write high-performance code, and guide a team committed to technical excellence. Working across disciplines, you'll align engineering execution with business strategy and elevate our enterprise platform. This is a rare opportunity to lead with impact, shape product direction, mentor talent, and drive innovation at scale.

What You'll Do
  • Architect, develop, and maintain scalable and secure systems and APIs that power high-impact applications used by millions of users in a real-time, always-on environment.
  • Take ownership of the full development lifecycle from shaping the architecture of new features to breaking down workstreams and guiding implementation.
  • Lead by example, writing high-performance, well-tested code that meets our rigorous standards for reliability and scalability.
  • Set and enforce best practices around code quality, design patterns, testing, and system performance.
  • Triage, debug, and resolve complex issues in production environments, driving a culture of accountability and operational excellence.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to align technical solutions with strategic business goals.
  • Act as a technical mentor and coach, providing guidance and feedback that helps engineers grow and deliver their best work.
  • Play a critical role in shaping the team's roadmap and technical direction while fostering a strong engineering culture grounded in ownership and continuous learning.

What You'll Bring
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or any suitable combination of education, experience, and training.
  • At least 5 years of experience in object-oriented backend development using languages such as C# or Java, with advanced expertise in OOP principles, design patterns, and backend architecture.
  • Proven ability to architect, build, and scale distributed systems in Cloud environments such as AWS or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  • Deep experience developing and maintaining comprehensive automated test suites, including unit, integration, and performance tests, to ensure system resilience and scalability.
  • A strong track record of mentoring engineers, leading code and design reviews, and driving high-impact technical decisions across cross-functional teams.
  • A proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, code quality, and driving engineering best practices across teams.


Join Our Team

We're a publicly traded (NASDAQ: DKNG) technology company headquartered in Boston. As a regulated gaming company, you may be required to obtain a gaming license issued by the appropriate state agency as a condition of employment. Don't worry, we'll guide you through the process if this is relevant to your role.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is 136,000.00 USD - 170,000.00 USD, plus bonus, equity, and benefits as applicable. Our ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The compensation information displayed on each job posting reflects the range for new hire pay rates for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range and how that was determined during the hiring process. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

About DraftKings

DraftKings is an American daily fantasy sports contest and sports betting operator. The company allows users to enter daily and weekly fantasy sports–related contests and win money based on individual player performances in five major American sports, Premier League and UEFA Champions League soccer, NASCAR auto racing, Canadian Football League, the XFL, mixed martial arts and Tennis. In August 2018, DraftKings launched DraftKings Sportsbook in New Jersey becoming the first legal mobile sports betting operator in the state. Since launching in New Jersey, DraftKings has opened mobile sports betting operations in Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and opened in New Hampshire December 30, 2019 after reaching contract with the New Hampshire Lottery. Retail sports betting is available in Iowa, Mississippi and New York. DraftKings Sportsbook mobile and retail sports betting products allow bettors in each state engage in betting for most major U.S. and international sports. As of April 2016, the majority of U.S. states consider fantasy sports a game of skill and not gambling. In November 2016, FanDuel and DraftKings, the two largest companies in the daily fantasy sports industry, reached an agreement to merge. However the merger was terminated in July 2017 due to it being blocked by the Federal Trade Commission as the combined company would have controlled a 90 percent of the market for daily fantasy sports. As of July 2017, DraftKings had eight million users.
Learn more about DraftKings
Size
3,400 employees
Market Cap
$4.9 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$577.9 million
Revenue
$292.3 million
NASDAQ

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