Lead Backend Engineer

DraftKings Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

DraftKings Inc. is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to architect and scale real-time backend systems used by millions. You will own end-to-end delivery, mentor engineers, and drive best practices in a high-velocity team.

You will work across Product, Design, and Engineering to align technology with business goals, champion reliability, and shape the roadmap for our enterprise platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
• 5+ years in object-oriented backend development (C#/Java) with design patterns.
• Experience architecting and scaling distributed cloud systems (AWS or GCP).
• Strong focus on automated testing and code quality.

Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and maintain scalable, secure backend systems and APIs.
• Own the full lifecycle from architecture through implementation.
• Write high-performance, well-tested code to meet reliability standards.
• Enforce best practices around coding, design patterns, and performance.
• Triage and resolve production issues, driving operational excellence.
• Collaborate with Product, Design, and Engineering to align goals.
• Mentor engineers and guide technical direction across teams.

Skills

C#/Java

Distributed systems

Cloud (AWS/GCP)

Automated tests

Mentoring

Code reviews

OOP principles

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

Unit testing frameworks

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 Lead Backend Engineer, you’ll lead the charge in building scalable systems that power real-time experiences for millions of customers. You’ll architect robust solutions, write high-performance code, and guide a team committed to technical excellence. Working across disciplines, you’ll align engineering execution with business strategy and elevate our enterprise platform. This is a rare opportunity to lead with impact, shape product direction, mentor talent, and drive innovation at scale.

What You’ll Do

• Architect, develop, and maintain scalable and secure systems and APIs that power high-impact applications used by millions of users in a real-time, always-on environment.
• Take ownership of the full development lifecycle from shaping the architecture of new features to breaking down workstreams and guiding implementation.
• Lead by example, writing high-performance, well-tested code that meets our rigorous standards for reliability and scalability.
• Set and enforce best practices around code quality, design patterns, testing, and system performance.
• Triage, debug, and resolve complex issues in production environments, driving a culture of accountability and operational excellence.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Design, and Engineering teams to align technical solutions with strategic business goals.
• Act as a technical mentor and coach, providing guidance and feedback that helps engineers grow and deliver their best work.
• Play a critical role in shaping the team’s roadmap and technical direction while fostering a strong engineering culture grounded in ownership and continuous learning.

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 object-oriented backend development using languages such as C# or Java, with advanced expertise in OOP principles, design patterns, and backend architecture.
• Proven ability to architect, build, and scale distributed systems in Cloud environments such as AWS or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Deep experience developing and maintaining comprehensive automated test suites, including unit, integration, and performance tests, to ensure system resilience and scalability.
• A strong track record of mentoring engineers, leading code and design reviews, and driving high-impact technical decisions across cross-functional teams.
• A proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, code quality, and driving engineering best practices across teams.

#LI-TK1

#LI-REMOTE

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.