Senior Backend Developer (Hybrid)

Big Viking Games; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Viking Games, a leading game company, is seeking a Senior Software Engineer specializing in backend systems. This hybrid position is responsible for building scalable and concurrent systems, ensuring performance, reliability, and security. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in cloud-native development and backend technologies.

Benefits

Group Retirement Savings Plan matching & participation

Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, and vision)

Generous time off policies

Annual compensation adjustments (salary increases and/or bonuses)

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in backend systems development.
• Proficiency with PHP, Java, Node.js, or C#.
• Experience with MySQL or MariaDB and message queues.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable backend systems.
• Maintain existing systems and refactor components.
• Document systems and workflows for maintainability.

Skills

Concurrency

Backend architecture

Cloud development

Data storage

Communication

Job description

Important

This a full-time, hybrid role for Ontario-based employees only. The successful candidate will be required to work from our Toronto office (Harbourfront) for a minimum of 3 days per week.

A Little About Us

Making fans - That’s what we’re all about! Since our humble beginnings in 2011, these two words have driven Big Viking Games to become the successful company it is today. We are focused on making our mark as a next-generation, live operations games company.

We believe that each Viking is unique and brings exponential value to the company. In return, we provide Vikings with the opportunity to solve problems through continuous learning and fostering feedback, ultimately mastering their craft. By investing in our Vikings and in new technologies, we can continue our success for years to come.

Role Description

Big Viking Games is looking for a Senior Software Engineer (Backend) to join our Technology team! Reporting to the Director of Engineering, you’ll work on our flagship live-ops titles – YoWorld and FishWorld. This hybrid role is suited for a backend expert with experience building scalable systems in the cloud, with a deep understanding of high-concurrency architectures and data-centric design.

You’ll maintain and evolve production systems while playing a critical role in backend modernization projects.

What You’ll Do

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable, highly concurrent cloud-based backend systems.
• Maintain existing game services while progressively refactoring components for modernization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support feature development, LiveOps, and tooling needs.
• Ensure backend systems meet performance, reliability, and security standards.
• Participate in technical design discussions and architectural decisions.
• Conduct code reviews and provide technical mentorship to peers.
• Resolve backend performance issues, scalability bottlenecks, and infrastructure concerns.
• Document systems and workflows for maintainability and knowledge sharing.
• Work in a distributed system environment to build fault-tolerant, resilient services.
• Implement data storage strategies using relational and non-relational databases.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of experience building and maintaining highly concurrent backend systems.
• Proficiency with PHP, Java, Node.js, or C# in production environments.
• 5+ years of working experience with MySQL or MariaDB.
• Experience with message queues, such as RabbitMQ, in production environments.
• 3+ years of experience working in a distributed systems environment.
• Strong understanding of backend fundamentals: threading, memory management, load balancing.
• Experience in cloud-native development principles and tooling.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with remote teams.

Nice-To-Have

• Experience managing and operating Kubernetes clusters in production.
• Experience implementing Infrastructure as Code using Terraform.
• Familiarity with ArgoCD, Helm, Redis, Memcached, Groundcover, or NoSQL databases.
  Experience in building highly scalable, fault-tolerant systems.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices, including penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and cloud security.

Perks + Benefits

• Salary Range: $120,000 - $140,000 CAD annually
• Group Retirement Savings Plan matching & participation
• Comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, and vision)
• Generous time off policies
• Annual compensation adjustments (salary increases and/or bonuses) based on personal and company performance

Accommodations

Big Viking Games is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all candidates. We welcome applications from individuals of all abilities and will provide accommodations throughout the hiring process as needed. If you require any accommodations, please email [e-mail] so we can work with you to support your needs.