Senior Software Engineer. Backend

National Geographic; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

DraftKings is hiring a Senior Software Engineer to build high-scale backend systems powering real-time experiences for millions of users. You will ship production-ready code, own services end-to-end, and contribute to a fast-moving, always-on environment.

Required: 3+ years in object-oriented backend development (C#/Java), cloud experience (AWS/GCP), and automated testing. You will mentor peers and drive quality standards across the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent
• 3+ years of backend development experience in C# or Java
• Experience building scalable distributed systems in cloud environments (AWS/GCP)
• Hands-on experience with AI tooling or agentic development
• Proficient in automated test suites (unit/integration/performance)
• Mentor teammates through code/design reviews and debugging

Responsibilities

• Design and develop scalable backend systems and APIs powering high-impact apps
• Deliver production-ready code and features in a 24/7 environment
• Balance agility with scalability for rapid product rollouts
• Own the full software development lifecycle from design to maintenance
• Triage and resolve production issues with urgency
• Optimize for high-volume, real-time performance
• Leverage AI tooling in daily workflows to improve team efficiency
• Collaborate cross-functionally and mentor peers to uphold quality

Skills

C#

Java

OOP principles

Distributed systems

Cloud AWS/GCP

AI tooling

Automated tests

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

AWS

GCP

Job description

At DraftKings, AI is becoming an integral part of both our present and future, powering how work gets done today, guiding smarter decisions, and sparking bold ideas. It’s transforming how we enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and unlock new possibilities. Our teams are energized by innovation and readily embrace emerging technology. We’re not waiting for the future to arrive. We’re shaping it, one bold step at a time. To those who see AI as a driver of progress, come build the future together. The Crown Is Yours As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll build the high-scale backend systems that power real-time experiences for millions of customers. From day one, you'll ship production-ready code, deliver features with speed and consistency, and own services end-to-end in a fast-moving, always-on environment. You'll work alongside passionate engineers, architects, and product leaders who value quality, speed, and impact. Your ideas will shape what comes next and your growth won't slow down.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop scalable back-end systems and APIs that power high-impact applications used by a large, engaged user base around the clock.
• Deliver production-ready code, driving forward new features and capabilities in a 24/7 sports betting environment.
• Prioritize agility and scalability equally to support rapid product rollouts while ensuring systems are built to pivot and perform at scale.
• Own the full software development lifecycle, from initial design through long-term maintenance, performance tuning, and reliability improvements.
• Triage, investigate, and resolve production issues with urgency, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ensure all components are built to withstand high volume and real-time demands, optimizing for speed and efficiency.
• Use AI as part of your daily engineering workflow and build AI-powered or agentic tools that improve how the team works.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align technical execution with product goals, mentoring peers and driving quality standards across the team.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or any relevant combination of education, experience, and training.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in object-oriented backend development using languages such as C# or Java, with deep knowledge of OOP principles, design patterns, and backend system architecture.
• Proven success designing and building scalable distributed systems in Cloud environments such as AWS or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Hands-on experience using AI coding tools and agents to deliver software, automate engineering workflows, or improve team effectiveness.
• Advanced proficiency in writing and maintaining automated test suites, including unit, integration, and performance tests, for large-scale backend services.
• A demonstrated ability to mentor and grow other engineers through code reviews, design reviews, and collaborative debugging.

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. DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company. It’s simple, at DraftKings, we believe life's more fun with skin in the game. For that reason, we’re committed to responsibly creating the world’s favorite games and betting experiences. Headquartered in Boston, with offices around the globe, we believe we can continue to define what it means to be a technology company in sports entertainment. We love what we do, and think you will too.