Software Engineering Manager, Backend

DraftKings; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

DraftKings is seeking a Senior Software Engineering Manager to lead Engineering teams delivering high-impact product initiatives in a fast-paced environment. You will define technical strategy, scale architecture, mentor leaders, and foster ownership, inclusion, and excellence while partnering with Product, Design, and Business teams to align engineering efforts with company goals.

This role supports a remote-first, hybrid workplace across time zones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
• 5+ years full-stack experience at a large-scale growth company, incl. 4+ years managing software engineering teams.
• Proven ability to lead multiple engineering teams across concurrent workstreams.
• Expertise in C# or Java with hands-on .NET Framework/Core experience.
• Strong background deploying high-throughput cloud-based systems, ideally AWS.
• Experience with distributed systems architecture and Kafka.
• Collaborative with cross-functional stakeholders to influence product strategy and drive business goals.
• Remote-first leadership with distributed teams across time zones.

Responsibilities

• Lead Engineering teams responsible for core product areas and high-impact initiatives.
• Drive strategic alignment and execution across Engineering and Business teams.
• Guide technical direction and architectural planning with technical leads.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineering managers and senior ICs.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive team culture rooted in ownership and excellence.
• Own hiring strategy and participate in interview and selection processes.
• Champion software quality and infrastructure reliability and performance.
• Collaborate with Product, Design, and Business stakeholders to align with product vision.
• Facilitate technical discovery and system design decisions for scalability.

Skills

Full-stack

Engineering leadership

Distributed systems

AWS cloud

C#/Java

Mentoring

Remote leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

.NET

Kafka

AWS

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 Engineering Manager, you'll lead Engineering teams driving high-impact product initiatives across a dynamic, fast-paced environment. You'll define technical strategy, scale architecture, and shape execution to support long-term business growth. Collaborating closely with cross-functional partners, you'll ensure engineering efforts align with broader company goals while mentoring leaders and fostering a culture of ownership, inclusion, and technical excellence. Your leadership will empower teams to deliver innovative, scalable solutions that continuously elevate the customer experience.

What You'll Do

• Lead Engineering teams responsible for core product areas and high-impact initiatives, ensuring consistent delivery across a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Drive strategic alignment and execution across Engineering and Business teams, establishing clear priorities and communication channels with global stakeholders.
• Guide technical direction and architectural planning, partnering with technical leads to innovate and evolve critical systems that support long-term business growth.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineering managers and senior-level individual contributors through career development planning, regular feedback, and succession planning.
• Foster a high-performing, inclusive team culture rooted in ownership, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
• Own hiring strategy and play an active role in the interview and selection process to scale and strengthen the team.
• Champion software quality and technical best practices, advocating for sustainable investment in infrastructure, reliability, and performance.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Design, and Business team stakeholders to ensure engineering efforts directly support product vision and company goals.
• Facilitate technical discovery and hands-on involvement in system design, enabling teams to make thoughtful, scalable decisions that keep pace with evolving demands.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or any suitable combination of education, experience, and training.
• At least 5 years of experience in a full-stack environment at a large-scale, growth-oriented company, including 4+ years managing Software Engineering teams.
• A proven ability to lead and scale multiple engineering teams across concurrent workstreams, while mentoring individual contributors and other Engineering Managers.
• Deep expertise in at least one object-oriented programming language such as C# or Java, with hands-on experience in .NET Framework or .NET Core.
• A strong background in deploying and maintaining high-throughput, cloud-based systems, ideally within AWS.
• Experience with distributed systems architecture and message brokers like Kafka.
• A collaborative approach to working with cross-functional stakeholders to influence product strategy and deliver against business goals.
• A remote-first leadership mindset, with a successful track record of managing and growing distributed teams across time zones.

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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.