Lead Backend Engineer; Remote from Illinois

Lead Backend Engineer (Remote from Illinois)

As a Lead Backend Engineer, you will take ownership of backend systems that power large-scale online services, ensuring performance, scalability, and reliability. You will set technical direction, shape long-term strategy, and serve as the go-to authority for backend technology across the studio. In this role, you will guide a team of engineers, mentor talent, and contribute high-quality code while driving standards and best practices.

You will work closely with cross-functional teams to integrate third-party services, manage live operations, and maintain uptime for critical systems. This position offers the chance to make a significant impact on a fast-growing, collaborative, and highly creative environment.

• Define long-term goals, technical strategy, and roadmap for the backend department.
• Oversee integration and operations of key third-party services, cloud platforms, and infrastructure.
• Ensure uptime, reliability, and scalability of backend systems, monitoring performance and leading issue resolution.
• Review and approve major technical designs and architecture proposals.
• Lead backend engineers through coaching, performance management, and hiring processes.
• Contribute code and elevate engineering standards across the team.
• Improve engineering processes, sprint execution, documentation, and cross-team coordination.

• 5+ years of experience building and supporting online services, with 2+ years in a game development environment preferred.
• Hands-on experience with cloud providers, especially Azure.
• Strong programming skills in C# or a similar backend language.
• Experience supporting live services with regular release cadences.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work autonomously in a remote environment.
• Demonstrated leadership in technical guidance, problem-solving, and raising engineering standards.
• Ability to anticipate problems and drive solutions in a complex, fast-paced environment.

• Familiarity with multiplayer online games, particularly ARPGs.
• Experience with Unity and multi-platform patching/hotfix workflows.
• Knowledge of large-scale monitoring, alerting, or incident response systems.
• Prior people-leadership or mentorship experience.

• Flexible fully remote working arrangements.
• Health insurance premiums: 90% for employees, 100% for dependents (US-based).
• 30% paid premium on dental and vision plans (US-based).
• 35 days paid time off per year.
• 401(k) plan for US employees.
• Opportunity to work in a fast-growing, collaborative, and highly creative environment.