Head of Engineering, Backend & Server

Join Skillz and Level Up Your Career!

Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Join Skillz, the first publicly-traded mobile esports platform that hosts billions of casual mobile gaming tournaments for millions of players worldwide. Skillz is revolutionizing the gaming industry, providing the ultimate platform for competitive mobile games. By fostering social competition within games, Skillz empowers developers to create multi-million dollar franchises while connecting players through fair, enjoyable, and meaningful competition.

At Skillz, we firmly believe that everyone is born with unique skills and deserves to experience an epic win. We understand the thrill of achievement and the satisfaction of overcoming challenges. That's why we passionately champion game developers and players alike, empowering them to unleash their full potential through the power of competition.

Life @ Skillz

• Culture of Impact: Join a united team of builders, creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs driven by the desire to win. At Skillz, we create value and make a difference in the world.

• Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy peace of mind with our comprehensive benefits package, which includes 100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision expenses for both you and your entire family. Additionally, take advantage of our 401K matching, equity incentives, pre-tax benefit options, and more. 

• Wellness Support: Enhance your well-being with our array of wellness initiatives, including meditation and mental health resources, physical fitness coaching and classes, family planning assistance, health and parenting guidance, virtual therapy sessions, and more.

• Perks: We believe in enhancing your work experience. Enjoy daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, Friday Happy Hours, a full-size gym with showers, commuter benefits, insurance, and many more. We also offer competitive paid time off (PTO) & company holidays to help you recharge and pursue your passions.

Why Skillz?

• Pioneers of Skill-Based Competition: Skillz is not just any company in the gaming industry; we are the pioneers of skill-based competition, partnered with industry titans like UFC, NFL, T-Mobile, Buzztime, Bowlero, while also hosting renowned events like the Game Developer Conference (GDC). Join us in transforming the way people play games and building the home of competition for all.

• Impact Beyond Gaming: Skillz harnesses the power of its platform to support nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross, Susan G. Komen, American Cancer Society, the NAACP, and more. By participating in Skillz tournaments, you can make a difference and contribute to causes you care about.

• Recognized Success: Skillz has earned recognition as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, CNBC's Disruptor 50, San Francisco Business Times' Best Places to Work, Forbes' Next Billion-Dollar Startups, and the #1 fastest-growing company in America on the Inc. 5000 list, and many more.

• Talent Magnet: Join a team of talented professionals who are passionate about what they do. Our team includes experts from Meta, Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Tesla, Twitter (X), Roblox, Zynga, Samsung, Lyft, EA, Riot, Nexon, Gameskraft, PlayStation, Unity, Scopely, Tinder, Intel, Deloitte, EY, Twitch, DraftKings, and more.

The Future of Gaming Awaits!

The gaming industry is larger than movies, music, and books combined, with over 3 billion active gamers playing monthly and over 25 million active developers worldwide. Mobile gaming, in particular, is the fastest-growing segment, projected to reach $300 billion by 2025. At Skillz, you have the opportunity to be at the forefront of this exciting industry and shape its future. 

Job Description:

As the Head of Engineering, Backend & Server at Skillz, you will play a crucial role in defining the technical vision and roadmap for our next-generation eSports platform. You will lead a team of server/platform engineers to build and deliver a cutting-edge services platform for developers. Your responsibilities will include collaborating with product leadership and core engineering teams, tracking project schedules, communicating risk areas to upper management, fostering innovation, and ensuring the high productivity and career development of your team members

• You will own the Backend Application Development & Outsourcing strategy at Skillz, working closely with the Head of SDK to define the technical vision and roadmap for the next generation eSports platform

• You will be responsible for leading teams of platform/server engineers to build and deliver a cutting-edge services platform to developers

• Work with Product Leadership and core engineering teams to develop and track detailed schedules, dependencies and critical paths

• Collaborate effectively with all project stakeholders, including Product Management, Finance, Data teams, etc

• Clearly communicate any risk areas to upper management and come up with risk mitigation plans

• Encourage and drive initiatives which promote innovation and technical excellence

• Hire, retain, and develop the careers of the engineers on your team

• Coach and motivate your team to ensure high productivity and teamwork, and help each individual achieve their potential

• Interface with other internal teams to prioritize features and functionality based on the resources available and business priorities

• Conduct periodic on-call duties as needed on a regular scheme basis

Requirements:

• Hands-on management experience leading high-performing teams of engineers and/or engineering managers 

• Gaming Industry experience is required (active gaming engagement is a plus)

• Backend Application Development experience (distributed systems / microservices / kubernetes)

• Hands-on in System Design. Code maintenance and review experience in one or more of the following languages: Java & GO

• Able to work in-office 5 days a week in Las Vegas, Nevada (relocation available)

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a technical field of study, or equivalent industry experience

Join Skillz and Let's Redefine the Boundaries of Gaming! 

Together, we'll create a world where skill, passion, and innovation thrive. Join our team and be part of the journey. We look forward to having you on board!

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