Senior / Staff Software Engineer, Backend – Fantasy Sports

Sleeper

. Build and own core fantasy sports systems for leagues, rosters, drafts, waivers, trades, matchups, and scoring .

Posted 9/15/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • United StatesSenior💰 $180,000 - $300,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in backend engineering with a focus on building and owning scalable systems for high-traffic consumer products. Proficient in distributed systems, real-time data processing, and system architecture, with a strong ability to collaborate across teams to deliver end-to-end features.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Backend Engineering ExperienceDistributed Systems KnowledgeReal-Time Data ProcessingSystem Architecture OwnershipProficiency in Elixir, Go, Java, Python, Rust, or Node

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Backend EngineeringDistributed SystemsData ModelingCachingQueuesReal-Time Fan-Out CorrectnessFeature ShippingSystem ArchitectureCode ReviewsPerformance Monitoring

Soft Skills

Technical Decision ExplanationProactive Problem Identification

Industry Keywords

Fantasy SportsConsumer ProductsSan Francisco Bay AreaNew York City

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsElixirJavaNode.jsPythonRustGo

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Build and own core fantasy sports systems for leagues, rosters, drafts, waivers, trades, matchups, and scoring
Scale real-time scoring by ingesting live stat feeds and delivering updates to millions of rosters and open app sessions with low latency and correct results
Ship end-to-end features with designers and mobile and web engineers
Monitor, profile, and capacity-plan production systems before the season
Identify bottlenecks proactively
At Staff level, own system architecture, conduct design and code reviews, and help engineers ship at scale

Requirements

What you’ll need

5+ years of backend engineering experience; 8+ years for Staff level
Staff candidates must have a track record of owning the architecture of systems at this scale
Experience building and operating consumer products with millions of users
Experience shipping features end to end, not only infrastructure
Deep knowledge of distributed systems, data modeling, caching, queues, and real-time fan-out correctness
Strong proficiency in at least one backend language: Elixir, Go, Java, Python, Rust, Node, or similar
Ability to explain technical decisions, alternatives, and individual contributions
Sports fan; fantasy sports experience is preferred by context
Must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area or New York City
Must work legally in the United States

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k)
Generous PTO
Hybrid work policy
Opportunities for fast career growth
Equal employment opportunities
Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities