Principal Backend Engineer - The Multiplayer Group (MPG)

Climax Studios; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading game development company is seeking a Principal Backend Engineer to architect and deliver backend services for extensive game projects. The role involves mentoring, working closely with clients, and ensuring high-quality technical implementation. Ideal candidates should have experience with distributed applications, cloud platforms, and good communication skills. Flexible working options, comprehensive benefits, and a supportive work culture are offered.

Benefits

Flexible working

Mental health support

Strong pension plan

Minimum 25 days’ holiday

Parental leave policies

Training and development budget

Qualifications

• Experience in game development with multiple shipped live games.
• Ability to independently architect online services.
• Excellent time management skills to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Architect systems, write code, and deploy services.
• Act as the engineering contact point between MPG and the client.
• Make trade-offs based on performance, time, and budget.

Skills

Game development experience

Architecting distributed applications

Production experience with Java, Golang, C#, C++, Kotlin

Strong database experience (SQL/NoSQL)

Experience with AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure

Experience with infrastructure as code tools (Terraform)

Experience with Kubernetes and Docker

Strong communication skills

Job description

At The Multiplayer Group (MPG), we create world-class multiplayer experiences through Co-Dev and Full-Dev partnerships.
Our people-first culture supports a diverse, global team in a welcoming and flexible work environment. With teams spread worldwide, we prioritise connection—both online and in person. Giving back is central to who we are, with a focus on local communities, education, and sustainability.

We are looking for a highly experienced Principal Backend Engineer. You’ll be working in a team of backend engineers across MPG to spearhead the delivery and deployment of backend services for industry-leading game projects. You will act as a key engineering contact for external co-dev clients, collaborating with the Technical Director and Lead to architect solutions that balance technical idealism with production pragmatism.

You will define the technical architecture for major game titles, ensure implementation quality, and mentor the engineering team.

• Experience in game development and having shipped multiple live games (or similar products) with a high concurrent user count
• Proven experience architecting distributed applications with a high concurrent user base (hundreds of thousands), ideally proven with a released title or robust load tests
• Production experience with at least one of Java, Golang, C#, C++, Kotlin; experience with Python, Node.js and React is desirable
• Strong database experience, with the ability to work effectively with both SQL and NoSQL databases
• Proven experience with cloud platforms: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure; having an AWS Certification (Professional level) would be advantageous
• Proven experience building backend infrastructure using infrastructure as code tools, e.g. Terraform
• Proven experience using Kubernetes and Docker to build products at scale
• Ability to independently architect and design online services based on a specification
• Ability to navigate changes calmly and manage multiple pieces of potentially confidential information
• Excellent time management and ability to work independently
• Strong communicator with the ability to discuss technical strategy with non-technical stakeholders and adapt to client needs
• Experience building CI/CD pipelines from scratch or improving existing client solutions
• Awareness of security/cheating implications of technology choices

Beneficial

• Demonstrated mastery in at least one relevant area of backend technology, e.g. DevOps, Microservices, Cloud Architecture
• Understanding of how a backend service integrates with the game - experience with Unreal or Unity would be useful but not required
• An understanding of how to use LLMs to process and query structured and unstructured data

Responsibilities

• Individual contribution: architect systems, write code, deployments, etc.
• Act as the engineering contact point between MPG and the client, working alongside the Project Manager and Engineering Leadership
• Translate client requirements into tasks for yourself and team members
• Make the right trade-offs to design systems based on performance, time, and budget
• Mentor and delegate pieces of work to other team members to help develop them as engineers
• Create estimated cost spreadsheets for online services based on projected concurrent users
• Enforce engineering best practices across teams: modular design, code quality, testing
• Work with the Lead and Production to communicate risks, benefits, and future roadmaps
• Active mentorship of the engineering team towards professional accreditation (e.g., AWS Certification) and technical leadership.

Our Benefits

Flexible working: Remote-friendly long before it was the norm, with core hours that support both great work and real life.
Support & wellbeing: Mental health first-aiders, therapy and coaching via Myndup, plus private medical insurance to help you stay healthy and supported.
Pension & life cover: A strong pension plan and life insurance to support your future and protect your family.
Time for you: Minimum 25 days’ holiday, a paid winter break, and 3 volunteering days each year to give back to causes you care about.
Parental leave: Family-first policies that support parents and caregivers with flexibility and balance.
Levelling up: Annual L'D budget, expert talks, game jams, and mentoring opportunities to help you grow your skills and career.

Role Information: EN

Studio: The Multiplayer Group

Location: Europe, United Kingdom

Area of Work: Game Development

Service: Create

Service Type: Code

Employment Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time

Keywords Studios is dedicated to following a well-established Equal Opportunities Policy. We endeavor to create a workplace which provides for equal opportunities for all employees and potential employees.

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