Lead Backend Engineer

31st Union; San Mateo (CA); Remote; USD 169,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Equity awards

Performance bonus

Job summary

31st Union in San Mateo, California seeks a Lead Backend Engineer to lead the backend team, own architecture of studio-hosted services, and drive deployment and operational excellence. You will manage engineers across US and EU studios, setting standards and guiding technical decisions for a live-service game.

The role requires deep expertise in C#, Python/Go, distributed systems, and AWS, with hands-on experience in Kubernetes, Unreal Engine, and real-time messaging. Remote work is allowed.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of server-side development experience and related degree or equivalent experience.
• Led or managed backend engineers on a shipped AAA title, preferably live-service or multiplayer.
• Fluent in C#, proficient in Python or Go.
• Strong grasp of distributed systems, concurrency and scalable service design.
• Hands-on experience with NoSQL databases and Redis.
• Deployed and operated production services on AWS.
• Gives direct, constructive feedback and welcomes feedback from others.
• Kubernetes, Helm and microservice architectures.
• Profiling and optimizing distributed systems and database queries.
• Real-time messaging (MQTT) and API gateways.
• C++ and Unreal Engine knowledge.
• Experience with online game systems like matchmaking, telemetry, etc.
• Experience running a live title: incident response and capacity planning.

Responsibilities

• Manage backend engineering team: 1:1s, goal setting, performance feedback, hiring.
• Run backend planning: backlog, estimates, sprint priorities aligned to roadmap.
• Set engineering standards for code review, testing, docs, on-call readiness.
• Own architecture of studio-hosted services and deployment topology.
• Scope backend work for new game features and review designs.
• Implement and review implementations for backend services.
• Align backend roadmap with studio release schedules.
• Diagnose, fix and deploy backend hotfixes via studio process.
• Maintain CI pipelines and deployment automation.
• Own monitoring, alerting, dashboards, runbooks and incident reporting.
• Run backend on-call rotation and act as first responder.
• Load test services before major releases; optimize performance and costs.
• Implement and test failover and disaster recovery.
• Integrate studio services with external platforms; debug cross-service issues.

Skills

Leadership

Backend development

C#

Python

Go

Distributed systems

Concurrency

API design

Real-time messaging

C++

Unreal Engine

Microservices

On-call support

Incident response

Cost optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

MongoDB

DocumentDB

Redis

AWS

Kubernetes

Helm

API gateways

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 collective 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 evolving 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 relationship, from recruitment and hiring through compensation, benefits, discipline and termination. This means that employment at 31st Union depends on your substantive ability, objective qualifications and work ethic – not on your 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 gender identity and expression), alienage or citizenship status, transgender, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability (actual 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 medical conditions), marital status or registered domestic partner status, political activity or affiliation, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, arrest record, or taking or requesting statutory protected leaves, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are also committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application and/or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need to request reasonable accommodation.

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.

Finally, as a reminder, 2K is an equal employment opportunity employer. 2K does not discriminate, harass, or retaliate against individuals based on any protected characteristic. If you have any questions about this policy, please connect with [e-mail] for support.