Senior Backend Engineer
Posted
Summary
Senior Backend Engineer (IC3) at ProphetX, a CFTC-regulated fintech betting-exchange startup, owning design through production of complex real-time backend systems and mentoring junior engineers. Stack centers on Go (or Java/C++/Python), AWS, microservices, Kafka, Docker/Kubernetes, and SQL/NoSQL databases.
Role Overview
We're looking for a Senior Backend Engineer (IC3) to take ownership of designing, developing, deploying, and maintaining complex backend systems. You will lead delivery on large projects within the team, translate product requirements into engineering tasks, and be a technical anchor for more junior engineers. At this level, we expect you to define and manage solutions for highly complex problems and manage delivery across smaller teams.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the design and implementation of multiple large projects within one team, with production-level ownership.
- Translate product requirements into detailed engineering tasks and be the translation layer between product and engineering.
- Monitor product health proactively and drive resolution of functional and performance issues.
- Contribute to the evolution of key systems and frameworks, balancing innovation with reliability.
- Set and uphold best practices in software development across your workstream.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes and technologies and drive their adoption.
- Collaborate effectively with offshore and globally distributed engineering teams.
- Analyze complex problems and break them into manageable workstreams for junior engineers.
- Proactively seek development opportunities and share knowledge with peers and junior engineers.
What We’re Looking For
- 3+ years of hands-on backend experience in Go, Java, C++, or Python, with deep Go ecosystem knowledge preferred
- 2+ years building on AWS or equivalent cloud platforms (GCP, Azure)
- Proven experience building highly scalable, real-time systems in a production environment
- Strong command of microservices architecture, including design patterns and best practices
- Experience with event-driven and asynchronous system design, including technologies like Kafka
- Expertise designing RESTful and WebSocket APIs
- In-depth knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases
- Working knowledge of containerization technologies including Docker and Kubernetes
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation tooling
- Familiarity with monitoring and logging tools such as New Relic, Datadog, or Kibana
- Proficiency with Git or equivalent version control
- Experience with testing frameworks and writing unit tests
- Strong communicator, able to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Proactive, growth-focused, and highly adaptable with a strong sense of ownership
Compensation & Ownership
- Competitive compensation aligned to role and market
- Equity opportunities so you share in what we’re building
- A clear connection between impact and reward
Health & Wellbeing
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Flexible time off built on trust and accountability
- A culture that respects your time and avoids unnecessary meetings
Remote & Flexible Work
- Fully remote within the U.S.
- Flexibility to work in the way that helps you do your best work
The Role
- Take end-to-end ownership of complex backend systems at one of the most interesting startups in fintech right now, from design through production
- Take on a high-impact IC role as the technical anchor for your team, with a direct line between product and engineering
- Help build the real-time systems that earn trust in a brand-new asset class, on a platform that’s already CFTC-regulated
