Principal Backend Engineer

ESL FACEIT GROUP; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading gaming company in the UK seeks a Principal Software Engineer to drive the architectural overhaul of their core matchmaking system. You will focus on scalability and reliability using Golang and Kubernetes, mentoring senior engineers while tackling complex engineering challenges. This role demands proven backend expertise and a passion for gaming. Join us in shaping the future of esports with innovative technology and a culture that prioritizes community and excellence.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working hours

Gaming events and community engagement

Qualifications

• Proven experience in backend development, specifically in designing and deploying robust APIs.
• Expertise with microservices architecture and distributed systems.
• Strong experience in leadership roles with mentoring capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural overhaul of the core matchmaking system.
• Design and implement the next generation of the matchmaking engine.
• Ensure microservices handle massive throughput with minimal latency.

Skills

Backend development

Microservices architecture

Technical leadership

Golang proficiency

Distributed systems experience

Tools

Google Cloud Platform

Kubernetes

Docker

gRPC

Protobuf

Job description

We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer who is not just a coder, but a true architect. While you will sit at the forefront of our technology stack (Golang, GCP, Kubernetes), your primary mission is specific: You will lead the architectural overhaul of our core matchmaking system. We process over 30 million matches monthly for a user base of 26 million registered users. We need an elite individual contributor who can look at this scale not just as a traffic challenge, but as an abstraction challenge. You will design the systems that define how our players compete, ensuring our architecture is decoupled, extensible, and capable of handling the next 100 million users.

What You Will Do

• Architect the Future of Matchmaking: Lead the design and implementation of the next generation of our matchmaking engine. You will work closely with the rest of the team on reshaping our Matchmaking for the future of the platform.
• Master of Abstraction: Create clean, robust interfaces and high‑level abstractions. You won't just solve today's bugs; you will build the "Lego blocks" that allow our cross‑functional teams to build features rapidly without getting bogged down in complexity.
• Scale & Reliability: Tackle complex distributed system challenges. You will ensure our microservices can handle massive throughput with minimal latency, utilizing GCP and Kubernetes to their fullest potential.
• Technical Leadership: While this is an IC role, you will be a force multiplier. You will drive technical standards, conduct high‑level code reviews, and mentor senior engineers on design patterns and architectural best practices.
• Proven Backend Expertise: Deep experience designing, developing, and deploying robust APIs and microservices in production. Golang experience is highly preferred.
• Architectural Vision: Proven experience re‑architecting legacy systems into distributed, modern microservices. You understand Domain‑Driven Design (DDD) and know how to draw the boundaries between services correctly.
• Scaling Instincts: You understand the nuances of database locking, eventual consistency, distributed caching, and race conditions.

The Tech Stack & Environment

• Core: Golang, gRPC, Protobuf;
• Infrastructure: Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Kubernetes (GKE), Docker;
• Data: High‑scale distributed databases and caching layers.

Bonus Points

• Gaming Passion: a genuine passion for gaming and esports;
• Scale Experience: exposure to high traffic environments where performance, caching and latency optimisations were key considerations;
• Mentorship: you have actively mentored peers or juniors outside of your direct project scope.

At EFG (ESL FACEIT Group) we create worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. We pride ourselves in having a corporate social responsibility which is that "IT'S NOT GG, UNTIL IT'S GG FOR ALL". We are passionate about the culture we foster that ultimately helps to create and shape the world of esports, gaming tournaments, leagues, events and holistic ecosystems staged for our millions of players, fans and heroes.

Everything we do - from global esports tournaments and community‑driven leagues to next‑generation platforms and live events - is rooted in our passion, craftsmanship, and culture. With millions of players and fans around the world, we aim to shape the future of esports and gaming by building ecosystems that are inclusive, innovative, and enduring.

About FACEIT: As one of the core pillars of EFG, FACEIT is the beating heart of competitive online gaming. With over 26 million registered users playing 30 million matches each month, we are the industry leader in competitive play. Our platform is where gamers of all levels come together to test their skills, climb the ranks, and forge communities. At FACEIT, we're relentless in our pursuit of excellence. We push the limits of technology, deliver cutting‑edge features, and provide an unparalleled competitive gaming experience. Our vision is simple: to empower every player to reach their full potential, while keeping competition fair, engaging, and thrilling.