Senior Backend Engineer

Position Overview

• Location Type: Remote
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Salary: $140,000 - $240,000 per year

Sleeper is a rapidly growing fantasy sports platform dedicated to connecting people through sports games and community. We are building the next generation of fantasy leagues, pick'em contests, and social sports engagement. Our team is small, agile, and passionate about sports, product development, and our users. With millions of active users and a thriving community, user experience is our top priority.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to contribute to the scaling of our systems, development of new features, and maintenance of a world-class user experience. In this role, you will work on Sleeper's core services, including real-time contest logic, user personalization, payments, and data infrastructure. You will collaborate closely with engineers, product managers, and designers to bring features from conception to production. This is a hands-on, impact-driven position for an individual who excels at building robust, scalable systems for millions of users.

What You'll Do

• Design and build backend systems powering core Sleeper experiences such as fantasy contests, Sleeper Picks, user profiles, and real-time game interactions.
• Develop reliable, scalable, and secure APIs, services, and infrastructure across the technology stack.
• Enhance system performance and reliability through profiling, monitoring, and optimization techniques.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, design, and frontend teams for end-to-end feature delivery.
• Mentor and support fellow engineers through code reviews and the promotion of engineering best practices.
• Take ownership of features from design through deployment, demonstrating strong product sense and ownership.

Who You Are

• Possess 5+ years of backend engineering experience, preferably with high-scale, consumer-facing applications.
• Proficient in modern backend languages such as Python, Go, Node.js, or similar.
• Skilled in designing APIs, data models, and distributed systems.
• Experienced with relational and NoSQL databases, message queues, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or similar).
• Demonstrates excellent debugging and problem-solving skills, with the ability to quickly identify performance bottlenecks or system issues.
• Possesses strong communication skills and a collaborative, team-first mentality.
• Bonus: A passion for sports, gaming, or fantasy leagues.

Why Join Sleeper?

• Impact: Contribute to a product used by millions of sports fans, with a direct influence on user experience.
• Ownership: We empower our engineers with domain ownership and decision-making authority.
• Culture: Join a close-knit team that values collaboration and a shared passion for sports and technology.
• Growth: Be part of a high-growth startup environment offering diverse responsibilities and rapid learning opportunities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and stock options.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan.
• Flexible working hours and remote work options.
• Opportunities for career advancement.

Company Information

Sleeper prioritizes quality and intentionally maintains a small team size to maximize individual impact. We believe that larger company sizes can hinder product development and individual contribution. Our team comprises designers, engineers, product experts, and finance & operations professionals united by the goal of connecting people over sports. We are committed to fair and equitable compensation.

Application Instructions

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