Server Engineer - Unannounced Project

Lightfox Games; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) matching

Commuting benefits

Equity

Job summary

Lightfox Games is seeking a Server Engineer in Seattle to design, build, and maintain scalable server-side systems powering our mobile game for a world-class IP. This hybrid role requires ~50% time in-person at our downtown Seattle office.

You will collaborate with Gameplay Engineers, Designers, and Producers to implement backend features, own backend components end-to-end, and help establish engineering standards for a growing team. Strong backend ownership and mixed language skills are valued.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience with backend ownership on at least one shipped online or mobile title.
• Proficiency in Typescript and at least one backend language (Go/Python/Rust).
• Experience designing RESTful or real-time APIs with networking fundamentals.
• Familiarity with GCP and Firebase deployment, monitoring, and scaling.
• Understanding why features are built and collaborating for speed and quality.
• Solid knowledge of relational and NoSQL databases and performance optimization.
• Experience leveraging AI tools and LLMs to accelerate backend development, code review, or documentation workflows.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration in small, fast-moving teams.
• Self-motivated with ownership in an ambiguous, early-stage environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable server-side systems powering core game features including player data, live ops, matchmaking, and social features.
• Collaborate with Gameplay Engineers, Designers, and Producers to implement and ship backend features that support a great player experience.
• Own backend features end-to-end, from design and implementation through testing, deployment, and live support.
• Build and maintain reliable, observable, and performant services with an eye toward scalability as the player base grows.
• Contribute to backend architecture decisions and help establish engineering standards for a growing team.

Skills

Typescript

Go

Python

Rust

REST APIs

Firebase/GCP

Databases

AI tools

LLMs

Team collaboration

Communication

Tools

Unity

Job description

Lightfox Games is seeking a talented and enthusiastic Server Engineer to join our Seattle, Washington based team to work on an unannounced mobile game for a world-class IP and Publisher. This role is hybrid out of our downtown Seattle office, with approximately 50% of time expected in-person.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable server-side systems that power core game features including player data, live ops, matchmaking, and social features
• Collaborate closely with Gameplay Engineers, Designers, and Producers to implement and ship backend features that support a great player experience
• Own backend features end-to-end, from technical design and implementation through testing, deployment, and live support
• Build and maintain reliable, observable, and performant services with an eye toward scalability as the player base grows
• Contribute to backend architecture decisions and help establish engineering standards for a growing team

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, including meaningful backend ownership on at least one shipped online or mobile title
• Strong proficiency in Typescript and at least one other backend language, such as Go, Python, or Rust
• Experience designing and maintaining RESTful or real-time APIs, with a solid understanding of networking fundamentals
• Familiarity with GCP and/or Firebase tech stack, including deployment, monitoring, and scaling
• Understand the “Why” of the features you’re building, and collaborate with the team to find creative solutions to enhance development speed and quality
• Solid understanding of databases (both relational and NoSQL) and experience optimizing for performance, high scalability, and reliability
• Experience leveraging AI tools and LLMs to accelerate backend development, code review, or documentation workflows
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, comfortable working cross-functionally in small, fast-moving teams
• Self-motivated and comfortable with ownership in an ambiguous, early-stage environment

Nice to Have

• Experience building backend systems for mobile free-to-play games, including live ops infrastructure, event systems, or economy services
• Experience with real-time multiplayer or social features such as guilds, leaderboards, or co-op systems
• Familiarity with Unity and experience integrating server-side systems with a Unity client

Compensation

US$130,000 – US$155,000 depending on experience, plus health/vision/dental coverage, 401(k) matching, commuting benefits, and equity.