Backend Engineer, (Python, Go) - Remote Role

About 31st Union

31st Union is a game development studio focused on creating engaging experiences for players worldwide. The team values inclusivity, collaboration, innovation, and continuous growth.

The studio is currently developing Project ETHOS, a free-to-play, third-person roguelike hero shooter that brings a new direction to the genre.

About the Role

31st Union is seeking a Lead Backend Engineer to lead the team responsible for building and operating its studio-hosted services. You will manage backend engineers across the company's U.S. and European studios, oversee service and infrastructure architecture, and contribute directly to development alongside the team.

Reporting to the Director of Online Services, you will guide backend technical decisions, manage engineering priorities, and take ownership of service reliability, deployments, and incident response. The role combines technical leadership, people management, hands-on engineering, and operational responsibility for online game services.

Key Responsibilities

● Lead and manage backend engineers across U.S. and European studios, including regular one-on-ones, goal setting, performance feedback, and hiring.

● Manage the backend team's backlog, estimate work, and set sprint priorities in line with the online services roadmap.

● Establish engineering standards for code reviews, testing, documentation, and on-call readiness.

● Own the architecture of studio-hosted services and infrastructure, including service boundaries, data models, APIs, and deployment topology.

● Scope backend development work for new game features.

● Write and review technical designs for new services and major system changes.

● Implement and review proprietary backend services developed by the studio.

● Coordinate the backend roadmap with the studio's release schedule.

● Diagnose, fix, and deploy backend hotfixes through the studio's established process.

● Maintain continuous integration pipelines and deployment automation.

● Manage monitoring, alerting, dashboards, runbooks, and incident reporting for studio services.

● Lead the backend on-call rotation and serve as the first responder and escalation point for backend incidents.

● Load-test services ahead of major releases, resolve performance bottlenecks, and optimize service costs.

● Implement and test failover and disaster recovery procedures for services and their data.

● Integrate proprietary studio services with 2K and external platform services.

● Troubleshoot cross-service issues in collaboration with external engineering partners.

Required Qualifications

● At least 10 years of server-side development experience, along with a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, or equivalent experience.

● Experience leading or managing backend engineers on a shipped AAA game title, preferably a live-service or competitive multiplayer game.

● Fluency in C# and proficiency in Python or Go.

● Strong understanding of distributed systems, concurrency, and scalable service design.

● Hands-on experience with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB or DocumentDB, as well as Redis.

● Experience deploying and operating production services on AWS.

● Experience with Kubernetes, Helm, and microservice architectures.

● Ability to profile and optimize distributed systems, including database queries and service calls.

● Familiarity with real-time messaging technologies such as MQTT and with API gateways.

● Ability to give direct, constructive feedback and receive feedback from others.

Additional Technical Experience

● Experience with C++ and Unreal Engine.

● Knowledge of online game systems, including matchmaking, social features, progression, commerce, and telemetry.

● Experience operating a live game title, including incident response, capacity planning, and cost management.

Location and Work Arrangement

The position is based at 31st Union's studio in San Mateo, California, and is also open to fully remote candidates.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring current or future employer visa sponsorship. Visa sponsorship and assistance are not available for this position.

Salary and Benefits

The expected California base salary range at the start of employment is $169,100–$250,280 per year. Actual compensation may vary based on market location, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Eligible employees in regular roles may also receive bonus and/or equity awards, along with medical, financial, and other benefits. Details of applicable compensation and benefit plans are provided during the offer process. Employment is at-will, and compensation and benefit programs may be adjusted in accordance with company policies and applicable law.

Equal Employment Opportunity

31st Union is committed to equal employment opportunity and a diverse, inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, ability, and work ethic, without discrimination based on characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.