Lead Backend Engineer (Remote from Illinois)

This position is posted by Jobgether on behalf of a partner company. We are currently looking for a Lead Backend Engineer in 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.

Accountabilities:

• 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.

Requirements:

• 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.

Pluses:

• 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.

Benefits:

• 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.

Why Apply Through Jobgether?

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.

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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.