Lead Backend Engineer

2K; San Mateo (CA); Remote; USD 169,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

31st Union in San Mateo, California is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to guide the studio's backend services, own architecture, and mentor engineers across US and EU studios. You will drive API design, deployment, and on-call readiness while maintaining performance and cost efficiency.

The role requires expertise in Unreal Engine, distributed systems, and cloud deployments (AWS). It enables leadership across multiple time zones with a focus on robust, scalable backend services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Led backend engineers on a shipped AAA title, preferably live-service or competitive multiplayer game.
• Fluent in C#, and proficient in Python or Go.
• Strong grasp of distributed systems, concurrency and scalable service design.
• Hands-on experience with MongoDB/DocumentDB and Redis.
• Has deployed and operated production services on AWS.

Responsibilities

• Lead backend engineering team: conduct regular 1:1s, set goals, provide feedback, and lead hiring.
• Own architecture of studio-hosted services and deployment topology.
• Set engineering standards for code review, testing, documentation and on-call readiness.
• Own backend planning: maintain backlog, estimate work, set sprint priorities against roadmap.
• Maintain CI pipelines and deployment automation for services.
• Own monitoring, incident reporting, and on-call rotation for studio services.

Skills

C#

Python

Go

C++

Unreal Engine

Distributed systems

AWS

Kubernetes

MongoDB/DocumentDB

Redis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Kubernetes

Helm

APIs

Job description

Who we are:

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and inspired by a culture of inclusivity to build amazing games that thrill players everywhere . We pursue growth and innovation in an environment of safety and trust . Our culture is built on the belief that the more varied voices in our collectiv e will strengthen our team and our games . We are looking for our next teammate who will raise our bar and make us better .

We are currently working on Project ETHOS, a new free-to-play, 3rd person rogue-like hero shooter and an ex citing evolution on the genre!

Who You Are:

31st Union is looking for a Lead Backend Engineer to lead the team that builds and runs our studio-hosted services. You will manage backend engineers in our US and EU studios, own the architecture of our services and infrastructure, and write code alongside the team. You are the first point of contact for backend technical decisions and backend incidents. This role reports to the Director - Online Services.

This role is based in our San Mateo, California studio and is open to fully remote candidates.

Responsibilities:

Manage backend engineering team: hold regular 1:1s, set goals, give performance feedback, and lead hiring.

Run the backend team's planning: maintain the backlog, estimate work, and set sprint priorities against the online services roadmap.

Set the team's engineering standards for code review, testing, documentation and on-call readiness.

Architecture and Development

Own the architecture of our studio-hosted services and infrastructure, including service boundaries, data models, APIs and deployment topology.

Scope backend work for new game features.

Write and review technical designs for new services and major changes.

Implement and review implementations for proprietary studio backend services.

Releases and Deployment

Align backend roadmap with studio release schedule.

Diagnose, fix and deploy backend hotfixes through the studio hotfix process.

Maintain the continuous integration pipelines and deployment automation for our services.

Operations

Own monitoring, alerting, dashboards, runbooks and incident reporting for studio services.

Run the backend on-call rotation, and act as first responder and escalation point for backend incidents.

Load test services before major releases, fix performance bottlenecks, and optimize service costs.

Implement and test failover and disaster recovery for our services and their data.

Platform Integration

Integrate studio proprietary services with 2K and external platform services.

Debug cross-service issues with external engineering partners.

Required Qualifications:

10+ years of server-side development experience, complemented by a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Has led or managed backend engineers on a shipped AAA title, preferably a live-service or competitive multiplayer game.

Fluent in C#, and proficient in Python or Go.

Strong grasp of distributed systems, concurrency and scalable service design.

Hands-on experience with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB or DocumentDB, and with Redis.

Has deployed and operated production services on AWS.

Gives direct, constructive feedback and invites it from others.

Kubernetes, Helm and microservice architectures.

Profiling and optimizing distributed systems, including database queries and service calls.

Real-time messaging, such as MQTT, and API gateways.

C++ and Unreal Engine.

Online game systems such as matchmaking, social, progression, commerce and telemetry.

Running a live title: incident response, capacity planning and cost management.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $169,100 and $250,280 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.
Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.If hired, employee will be in an at-will position and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

31st Union prides itself on the diversity of its team members, partners, and communities . For this reason, we remain committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all aspects of the employment rela tionship, from recruitment and hiring through co mpensation, benefits, discipline and termination . This means that employment at 31st Union depends on your substantive ability, objective q ualifications and work ethic - not on y our age, race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), height, weight, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gen der identity and expression), alienage or citizenship status, transgender, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability (a ctual or perceived), medical condition, AIDS/HIV, denial of family and medical care leave, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, pregnancy status, childbirth, breastfeeding (or related medic al conditions), marital status or registered domestic partner status, political activity or affiliation, status as a victim of domestic vi olence, sexual assault or stalking, arrest record, or taking or requesting statutori ly protected leaves, or any other cl assific ation protected by federal, state, or local laws .

Please note that 31st Union is unable to provide visa sponsorship or assistance for this position. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in United States without requiring current or future employer sponsorship.