Sr. Software Engineer

Churchill Downs Incorporated; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Churchill Downs Incorporated, based in Austin, TX, seeks a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain highly available front-end and back-end systems supporting our gaming platform. This in-office role offers collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Operations to deliver scalable, secure software in a regulated environment.

The position requires strong full-stack experience, AI tooling familiarity, and leadership in code reviews, CI/CD, and mentoring.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, MIS, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Extensive experience as a full-stack developer building high-availability applications.
• Experience with NoSQL and/or relational database design and performance tuning.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
• Experience designing systems that manage real-time data and transactions.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain front-end and back-end services for Exacta’s gaming platform.
• Own major components or services within the system architecture.
• Enthusiastic and experienced with AI-assisted development and modern AI coding tools.
• Contribute to system design discussions focused on scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Collaborate with Product, QA, and Operations to deliver new gaming functionality.
• Participate in code reviews and uphold high standards for code quality, testing, and documentation.
• Troubleshoot production issues and optimize system performance.
• Support CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment processes.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices across the team.
• Assist in planning, estimation, and execution of engineering initiatives.

Skills

Full-stack development

Mentoring

Collaboration

Effective communicator

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Equivalent experience

Tools

NodeJS/TypeScript

React

MongoDB

PostgreSQL

Git & GitHub Actions

Docker

AWS & on‑prem

HTML/SCSS/Material UI

Job description

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At Exacta Systems, we’re not just shaping the future of gaming—we’re redefining it. As a leader in historical horse racing (HHR) technology, we create cutting-edge gaming solutions that power thrilling player experiences nationwide. Now part of the Churchill Downs family, we’re backed by a storied legacy of excellence in racing and gaming. This new chapter brings exciting opportunities for growth, stability, innovation, and impact. If you're looking for a career where technology meets tradition and where your ideas drive the future, let’s explore the possibilities together!

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain highly available front-end and back-end systems that support our gaming platform. This individual will be a primary contributor on key initiatives, partnering closely with Product, Engineering, and Operations to deliver scalable, secure, and reliable software in a regulated gaming environment.

This is a full-time, in-office position, based in our Austin, Texas HQ. Our team maintains core in-office hours from daily, with flexibility for occasional remote work as needed. We believe in-person collaboration drives our best work, especially as we build complex, mission-critical gaming systems.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, develop, test, and maintain front-end and back-end services for Exacta’s gaming platform
• Own major components or services within the system architecture
• Enthusiastic and experienced with AI-assisted development and modern AI coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, etc.)
• Contribute to system design discussions focused on scalability, reliability, and performance
• Collaborate with Product, QA, and Operations to deliver new gaming functionality
• Participate in code reviews and uphold high standards for code quality, testing, and documentation
• Troubleshoot production issues and optimize system performance
• Support CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment processes
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices across the team
• Assist in planning, estimation, and execution of engineering initiatives

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Experienced across the full software development life cycle, from requirements through production support
• Passionate about building high-quality software and mentoring other engineers
• Comfortable working in both independent and collaborative team settings
• Strong communicator, capable of translating technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
• Effective in fast-paced environments requiring thoughtful problem solving and ownership
• Interested in learning gaming systems, regulatory considerations, and real-time transaction platforms
• Technology and Tools:
  • AI Development Tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or similar)
  • NodeJS / TypeScript ecosystem
  • React front-end frameworks
  • MongoDB and PostgreSQL databases
  • Git, GitHub, GitHub Actions
  • Docker and containerized deployments
  • AWS and on-premises infrastructure
  • HTML, SCSS, Material UI

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, MIS, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• Extensive experience as a full-stack developer building high-availability applications
• Experience with NoSQL and/or relational database design and performance tuning
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices
• Experience designing systems that manage real-time data and transactions
• Experience in casino gaming or regulated industries is welcomed

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.

Work With Us

Churchill Downs Incorporated is an inclusive and fun place to work. We celebrate unique approaches and points of view. We believe diversity is a mindset that drives excellence. We’re always learning, evolving and growing. We innovate through mutual respect of ideas and collaboration. This allows us to build a common language that inspires our team members and propels us toward the achievement of our vision.