Staff Software Engineer, Event Contracts

United States Digital Space LLC; Town of Niskayuna (NY); Hybrid; USD 230,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus programs

Equity ownership

401(k) matching

Health insurance (100% for employees)

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC is seeking a Staff Backend Engineer to lead the technical roadmap for core Prediction Markets backend systems, enabling scalable real-time trading at scale.

You will mentor engineers, drive architecture improvements, and collaborate with product and leadership to align technical direction with business goals. This hybrid role requires strong leadership and deep backend expertise.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of backend engineering experience, with a strong track record at IC6 / Staff Engineer scope or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, distributed systems - designing for high availability, performance, and reliability.
• Experience with or genuine interest in prediction markets, sports betting, fantasy sports, trading platforms, or financial exchange systems.
• Strong technical leadership skills - you've driven engineering excellence roadmaps and influenced cross-functional outcomes without formal authority.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; comfortable engaging with product, leadership, and engineering stakeholders.
• B2C product experience and an understanding of what it means to build for millions of end users.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical roadmap for core Prediction Markets backend systems - identifying gaps, setting priorities, and driving execution across the team
• Design and build highly scalable, low-latency backend services that support real-time trading and event resolution at scale
• Lead engineering excellence initiatives: code quality, reliability, observability, and system resilience across the stack
• Partner with product, platform, and other engineering teams to align technical direction with business goals
• Mentor and level up engineers across the team, setting the technical bar and fostering a culture of ownership
• Contribute to hiring, onboarding, and shaping the engineering culture as the team scales

Skills

Backend engineering

Distributed systems

Leadership

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Join us in building the future of finance.

Our mission is to democratize finance for all. An estimated $124 trillion of assets will be inherited by younger generations in the next two decades. The largest transfer of wealth in human history. If you’re ready to be at the epicenter of this historic cultural and financial shift, keep reading.

About the team + role

We are building an elite team, applying frontier technologies to the world's biggest financial problems. We're looking for bold thinkers. Sharp problem-solvers. Builders who are wired to make an impact. the company isn't a place for complacency, it's where ambitious people do the best work of their careers. We're a high-performing, fast-moving team with ethics at the center of everything we do. Expectations are high, and so are the rewards.

The Prediction Markets team at the company is building the backend infrastructure that powers event contracts - giving everyday people access to markets that were once reserved for institutions. We're the fastest-growing product line at the company, having recently surpassed stock and crypto trading revenues, and we're scaling fast! Our team thrives at the intersection of financial markets, real-time systems, and high-stakes product moments like NFL, NBA, and election cycles. We value engineering excellence, ownership at every level, and building with both speed and craft!

We're looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to join us at a pivotal moment - as we transition from a scrappy 0→1 team into a scaled, excellence-driven engineering org. In this role, you'll own the technical roadmap for critical backend systems, identify gaps, and drive architectural improvements that can support exponential growth. You'll collaborate closely with product, engineering leadership, and your cross-functional partners to ensure our infrastructure is ready for what's next.

This role is based in our Menlo Park, CA and New York, NY office(s), with in-person attendance expected at least 3 days per week.

At the company, we believe in the power of in-person work to accelerate progress, spark innovation, and strengthen community. Our office experience is intentional, energizing, and designed to fully support high-performing teams.

What you'll do

• Own the technical roadmap for core Prediction Markets backend systems - identifying gaps, setting priorities, and driving execution across the team

• Design and build highly scalable, low-latency backend services that support real-time trading and event resolution at scale

• Lead engineering excellence initiatives: code quality, reliability, observability, and system resilience across the stack

• Partner with product, platform, and other engineering teams to align technical direction with business goals

• Mentor and level up engineers across the team, setting the technical bar and fostering a culture of ownership

• Contribute to hiring, onboarding, and shaping the engineering culture as the team scales

What you bring

• 10+ years of backend engineering experience, with a strong track record at IC6 / Staff Engineer scope or equivalent

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, distributed systems - designing for high availability, performance, and reliability

• Experience with or genuine interest in prediction markets, sports betting, fantasy sports, trading platforms, or financial exchange systems

• Strong technical leadership skills - you've driven engineering excellence roadmaps and influenced cross-functional outcomes without formal authority

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; comfortable engaging with product, leadership, and engineering stakeholders

• B2C product experience and an understanding of what it means to build for millions of end users

What we offer

• Challenging, high-impact work to grow your career

• Performance driven compensation with multipliers for outsized impact, bonus programs, equity ownership, and 401(k) matching

• Top Tier benefits to fuel your work, including 100% paid health insurance for employees with 90% coverage for dependents

• Access to the the company Employee Fund that gives eligible US employees the opportunity to invest in a private employee fund that provides exposure to the company Ventures funds.

• Access to the best AI tools on the market and continuous AI skill-building for every employee, technical or not.

• Lifestyle wallet - a highly flexible benefits spending account for wellness, learning, and more

• Employer-paid life & disability insurance, fertility benefits, and mental health benefits

• Time off to recharge including company holidays, paid time off, sick time, parental leave, and more!

• Exceptional office experience with catered meals, events, and comfortable workspaces.

In addition to the base pay range listed below, this role is also eligible for bonus opportunities + equity + benefits.

Base pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands. The expected base pay range for this role is based on the location where the work will be performed and is aligned to one of 3 compensation zones. For other locations not listed, compensation can be discussed with your recruiter during the interview process.

Base Pay Range:

Zone 1 (Menlo Park, CA; New York, NY; Bellevue, WA; Washington, DC)

$230,000-$270,000 USD

Zone 2 (Denver, CO; Westlake, TX; Chicago, IL)

$203,000-$238,000 USD

Zone 3 (Lake Mary, FL; Clearwater, FL; Gainesville, FL)

$180,000-$211,000 USD

Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards, which vary by region and entity.

If our mission energizes you and you’re ready to build the future of finance, we look forward to seeing your application.

the company provides equal opportunity for all applicants, offers reasonable accommodations upon request, and complies with applicable equal employment and privacy laws. Inclusion is built into how we hire and work - welcoming different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences so everyone can do their best. Please review thePrivacy Policy for your country of application.