DraftKings

Senior Lead Software Engineer, Backend

DraftKings$160K — $200K *
US-AnywhereRemote in United States
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
  • 7+ years in backend development with C# or Java
  • Expertise in distributed systems and cloud platforms like AWS or GCP
  • Proven track record in building resilient systems with automated test coverage
  • Experience in technical leadership and architectural decision-making
  • Background in mentoring engineers and fostering growth
  • Commitment to engineering excellence and best practices

Responsibilities

  • Architect and maintain scalable systems and APIs for high-demand applications
  • Own the full development lifecycle from architecture to implementation
  • Lead by example with high-performance, tested code
  • Establish best practices for system design and code quality
  • Respond to and resolve complex production issues urgently
  • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to meet business goals
  • Mentor engineers, providing guidance and support for growth
  • Influence technical roadmap and promote a culture of ownership

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance
  • Retirement savings plan with employer match
  • Flexible work hours and remote work options
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Team-building events and activities
  • Employee stock purchase plan
  • Gaming license guidance when applicable
Full Job Description
The Crown Is Yours

As a Senior Lead Software Engineer, you'll drive the architecture and development of high-scale systems that power real-time, always-on applications used by millions. You'll lead with technical authority, owning the entire engineering lifecycle, guiding implementation, and mentoring a team of talented developers. Working cross-functionally with Product, Design, and Engineering, you'll align technical execution with business priorities while fostering a culture grounded in accountability, quality, and continuous learning. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll influence the product roadmap, tackle complex scaling challenges, and shape the future of our engineering organization.


What You'll Do

  • Architect, develop, and maintain scalable, secure systems and APIs that power real-time, always-on applications used by millions.

  • Own the full development lifecycle from shaping the architecture of new features to breaking down workstreams and guiding implementation across the team.

  • Lead by example, writing high-performance, well-tested code and setting the bar for reliability, scalability, and operational excellence.

  • Establish and uphold best practices in system design, code quality, testing strategies, and performance monitoring.

  • Act as a first responder for the systems your team owns by triaging, debugging, and resolving complex production issues with urgency and accountability.

  • Drive cross-functional collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering to align technical execution with business priorities.

  • Mentor and develop engineers at all levels, providing the feedback, support, and guidance they need to grow and thrive.

  • Shape the technical roadmap, influence strategic decisions, and foster a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous learning.


What You'll Bring

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or any suitable combination of education, experience, and training

  • At least 7 years of experience in backend development using object-oriented programming languages such as C# or Java, with advanced proficiency in software architecture, OOP principles, and scalable system design

  • Expertise in designing and building distributed systems in cloud environments like AWS or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), with a strong understanding of modern cloud-native architectures

  • A track record of building resilient, high-performance systems backed by robust automated test coverage, including unit, integration, and performance tests

  • Demonstrated leadership in setting technical direction, conducting code and design reviews, and influencing architecture decisions across engineering teams

  • Experience mentoring engineers and creating an environment that fosters growth, learning, and high performance

  • A strong focus on engineering excellence, with a proactive approach to improving system reliability, scalability, and maintainability

  • Deep commitment to driving best practices in development processes, testing strategies, and system monitoring

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 160,700.00 USD - 200,900.00 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.

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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