Tech Lead

Xsolla; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

PTO

Career development

Job summary

Xsolla in Montreal, Canada, seeks a Tech Lead to drive the technical direction, architecture, and delivery of fraud prevention and risk systems. You will lead high-throughput, low-latency platforms and collaborate with Product, Data Science, Risk Operations, Compliance, and Platform teams to scale fraud detection globally.

The role requires fintech/payments expertise, strong backend skills (Java/Kotlin/Go), and proven leadership of engineers across squads, with a focus on security, reliability,

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience in fintech/payments
• Proven experience designing or leading Anti-Fraud Systems (AFS) such as rule engines and risk scoring pipelines
• Experience building high-volume, low-latency distributed systems
• Strong backend engineering skills in Java/Kotlin/Go
• Deep understanding of event-driven architectures and real-time decisioning systems

Responsibilities

• Own the technical vision and architecture of Xsolla’s anti-fraud platform and services
• Design scalable, real-time risk scoring, rule engines, and decision workflows
• Lead architectural decisions around AFS integrations, internal fraud engines, and third-party providers
• Ensure systems meet performance, reliability, security, and compliance requirements
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers in technical depth and domain expertise
• Collaborate with Risk, Payments, and Compliance teams on transaction monitoring and fraud strategy

Skills

Fintech/payments experience

Anti-Fraud Systems (AFS)

High-throughput, low-latency systems

Java / Kotlin / Go backend

Distributed systems design

Team leadership

Global scale / multi-region

Regulatory knowledge (AML/KYC)

Strong communication

Tools

Java

Kotlin

Go

Job description

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for a Tech Lead to drive the technical direction, architecture, and delivery of Xsolla’s fraud prevention and risk systems. This role requires deep fintech and payments experience, strong understanding of Anti-Fraud Systems (AFS), and the ability to lead engineers building high-throughput, low-latency, decision-critical systems.

You will work closely with Product, Data Science, Risk Operations, Compliance, and Platform teams to design and evolve fraud detection, prevention, and investigation capabilities at global scale.

ABOUT US

Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.

For more information, visit xsolla.com.

• Technical Leadership & Architecture
• Own the technical vision and architecture of Xsolla’s anti-fraud platform and services.
• Design scalable, resilient systems for real-time transaction risk scoring, rule engines, and decision workflows.
• Lead architectural decisions around AFS integrations, internal fraud engines, and third-party providers.
• Ensure systems meet performance, reliability, security, and compliance requirements.
• Fraud & Fintech Domain Leadership
• Translate fraud and risk requirements into robust technical solutions.
• Partner with Risk, Payments, and Compliance teams on: Transaction monitoring, Chargeback reduction, AML / KYC-adjacent workflows (where applicable), and Regulatory and scheme requirements (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
• Evaluate and evolve fraud strategies across: Card-not-present transactions, Alternative payment methods, Digital goods and gaming-specific fraud vectors
• Engineering Execution: Lead a team of engineers (directly or as a technical lead across squads), Drive best practices in: Code quality and reviews, System observability and alerting, Secure development, and Incident response and root cause analysis
• Balance speed, risk, and quality in a high-impact domain.
• Collaboration & Influence: Work cross-functionally with Product Managers, Data Scientists, and Operations
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers in both technical depthanddomain expertise.
• Act as a technical escalation point for complex fraud-related incidents.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience, with significant time in fintech or payments.
• Proven experience designing or leading Anti-Fraud Systems (AFS), such as: Rule engines, Risk scoring pipelines, and Decision orchestration systems
• Strong backend engineering skills (e.g., Java, Kotlin, Go, or similar).
• Experience building high-volume, low-latency distributed systems.
• Deep understanding of Event-driven architecture, APIs and integrations, Data stores used for real-time decisioning, and Domain Expertise
• Hands-on experience with fraud prevention in: Payment processing, Digital commerce or marketplaces, and Gaming or virtual goods (strong plus)
• Understanding of fraud patterns, abuse vectors, and mitigation techniques.
• Familiarity with: Chargebacks and dispute flows, 3DS, risk exemptions, and payment scheme rules, and Working with external fraud vendors and tools
• Proven ability to lead technically without relying solely on formal authority.
• Strong decision-making skills in ambiguous, high-risk domains.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex technical and fraud concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Comfortable owning outcomes in a mission-critical area.
• Experience working with data science or ML-driven fraud models.
• Knowledge of AML, KYC, or regulatory frameworks.
• Prior experience in global payment platforms or PSPs.
• Experience operating systems at global scale (multiple regions, currencies, and regulations).

Benefits:

We are passionate about fostering a supportive environment for our team, so we prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our employees and their families through a comprehensive Benefits Program. This includes medical, dental, and vision, PTO, and a personalized career roadmap for each employee. By investing in professional development through training and educational opportunities, we ensure that our team thrives both personally and professionally. Together, we’re not just building a business; we’re cultivating a community that values creativity, collaboration, and the transformative power of play.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Xsolla is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the Fair Chance Act.

Criminal History Consideration:

For the Tech Lead, we will conduct a background check that may include the following:

• Criminal history check
• Employment verification
• Education verification

Relevance to Job Responsibilities:

The background check is relevant to this position because of the following role responsibilities:

• Accessing confidential company data
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements

Rights Under the Fair Chance Act:

Applicants are encouraged to inquire about their rights under the Fair Chance Act. If you have questions regarding our hiring practices, please contact [e-mail].