DraftKings

Senior Lead Software Engineer, Backend

In short

This is a senior/lead backend engineering role at DraftKings, a publicly traded gaming technology company, building and leading architecture for high-scale, real-time systems used by millions. The role combines hands-on coding with technical leadership: owning the engineering lifecycle, mentoring engineers, and driving cross-functional work with Product and Design. It requires 7+ years of backend experience in C# or Java, distributed systems expertise on AWS or GCP, and a strong track record of technical leadership and mentoring. Fully remote within the US, full-time, with a base salary of $160,700-$200,900 plus bonus and equity.

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.

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