> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/4148948-lead-backend-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/4148948-lead-backend-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Lead Backend Engineer

- **Company:** 31st Union
- **Location:** San Mateo, CA, United States (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $250,280.0
- **Contract:** Temporary contract
- **Skills:** Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Amazon Web Services, C Sharp (Programming Language), C++ (Programming Language), Profiling, Code Review, Continuous Integration, Database Queries, Software Debugging, Disaster Recovery, Distributed Systems, Instant Messaging Technology, Python (Programming Language), Load Testing, MongoDB, Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), NoSQL, Online Service Provider, Redis, Runbook, Service Design, Systems Integration, Computer Gaming, Concurrency, Backend, Kubernetes, Information Technology, Deployment Automation, Unreal Engine, Api Gateway, Microservices
- **Published:** October 16, 2026
- **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/lead-backend-engineer-2k-19-10479458

## About the Role

* 10+ years of server-side development experience, complemented by a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience.
 * Has led or managed backend engineers on a shipped AAA title, preferably a live-service or competitive multiplayer game.
 * Fluent in C#, and proficient in Python or Go.
 * Strong grasp of distributed systems, concurrency and scalable service design.
 * Hands-on experience with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB or DocumentDB, and with Redis.
 * Has deployed and operated production services on AWS.
 * Gives direct, constructive feedback and invites it from others.

Relevant Experience:

 * Kubernetes, Helm and microservice architectures.
 * Profiling and optimizing distributed systems, including database queries and service calls.
 * Real-time messaging, such as MQTT, and API gateways.
 * C++ and Unreal Engine.
 * Online game systems such as matchmaking, social, progression, commerce and telemetry.
 * Running a live title: incident response, capacity planning and cost management.

## Description

Team Leadership

 * Manage backend engineering team: hold regular 1:1s, set goals, give performance feedback, and lead hiring.
 * Run the backend team's planning: maintain the backlog, estimate work, and set sprint priorities against the online services roadmap.
 * Set the team's engineering standards for code review, testing, documentation and on-call readiness.

Architecture and Development

 * Own the architecture of our studio-hosted services and infrastructure, including service boundaries, data models, APIs and deployment topology.
 * Scope backend work for new game features.
 * Write and review technical designs for new services and major changes.
 * Implement and review implementations for proprietary studio backend services.

Releases and Deployment

 * Align backend roadmap with studio release schedule.
 * Diagnose, fix and deploy backend hotfixes through the studio hotfix process.
 * Maintain the continuous integration pipelines and deployment automation for our services.

Operations

 * Own monitoring, alerting, dashboards, runbooks and incident reporting for studio services.
 * Run the backend on-call rotation, and act as first responder and escalation point for backend incidents.
 * Load test services before major releases, fix performance bottlenecks, and optimize service costs.
 * Implement and test failover and disaster recovery for our services and their data.

Platform Integration

 * Integrate studio proprietary services with 2K and external platform services.
 * Debug cross-service issues with external engineering partners., As an equal opportunity employer, we are also committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application and/or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need to request reasonable accommodation.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.

Please note that 31st Union is unable to provide visa sponsorship or assistance for this position. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in United States without requiring current or future employer sponsorship.