Senior Lead Software Engineer, Backend

DraftKings; United States; On-site; USD 161,000 - 201,000; Full time

Job summary

DraftKings in the United States seeks a Senior Lead Software Engineer to drive architecture and development of high-scale, real-time systems used by millions. You will lead with authority, own the lifecycle, and mentor a team across Product, Design, and Engineering.

The role emphasizes engineering excellence, scalable design, and proactive reliability. A hands-on leadership position with influence on the product roadmap.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
• 7+ years in backend development with OO languages (C#/Java).
• Experience designing distributed, cloud-native systems.
• Proven leadership in code/design reviews and cross-team influence.
• Mentoring engineers and driving engineering excellence.

Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and maintain scalable, secure real-time systems used by millions.
• Own full development lifecycle from architecture to implementation across team.
• Write high-performance, well-tested code and ensure reliability.
• Establish best practices in design, testing, and monitoring.
• Triage and resolve critical production issues with urgency.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Product, Design, and Eng.
• Mentor engineers at all levels to grow and perform.
• Shape the technical roadmap and foster ownership and learning.

Skills

Backend development

C# or Java

Cloud architectures

Leadership & mentoring

High-performance systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Tools

AWS

GCP

Distributed systems

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 Lead Software Engineer, you'll drive the architecture and development of high-scale systems that power real-time, always-on applications used by millions. You'll lead with technical authority, owning the entire engineering lifecycle, guiding implementation, and mentoring a team of talented developers. Working cross-functionally with Product, Design, and Engineering, you'll align technical execution with business priorities while fostering a culture grounded in accountability, quality, and continuous learning. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll influence the product roadmap, tackle complex scaling challenges, and shape the future of our engineering organization.

What You'll Do

• Architect, develop, and maintain scalable, secure systems and APIs that power real-time, always-on applications used by millions.

• Own the full development lifecycle from shaping the architecture of new features to breaking down workstreams and guiding implementation across the team.

• Lead by example, writing high-performance, well-tested code and setting the bar for reliability, scalability, and operational excellence.

• Establish and uphold best practices in system design, code quality, testing strategies, and performance monitoring.

• Act as a first responder for the systems your team owns by triaging, debugging, and resolving complex production issues with urgency and accountability.

• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Product, Design, and Engineering to align technical execution with business priorities.

• Mentor and develop engineers at all levels, providing the feedback, support, and guidance they need to grow and thrive.

• Shape the technical roadmap, influence strategic decisions, and foster a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous learning.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or any suitable combination of education, experience, and training

• At least 7 years of experience in backend development using object-oriented programming languages such as C# or Java, with advanced proficiency in software architecture, OOP principles, and scalable system design

• Expertise in designing and building distributed systems in cloud environments like AWS or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), with a strong understanding of modern cloud-native architectures

• A track record of building resilient, high-performance systems backed by robust automated test coverage, including unit, integration, and performance tests

• Demonstrated leadership in setting technical direction, conducting code and design reviews, and influencing architecture decisions across engineering teams

• Experience mentoring engineers and creating an environment that fosters growth, learning, and high performance

• A strong focus on engineering excellence, with a proactive approach to improving system reliability, scalability, and maintainability

• Deep commitment to driving best practices in development processes, testing strategies, and system monitoring

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.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is 160,700.00 USD - 200,900.00 USD, plus bonus, equity, and benefits as applicable. Our ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The compensation information displayed on each job posting reflects the range for new hire pay rates for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range and how that was determined during the hiring process. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.