Senior Staff Software Engineer (Java, Kotlin, Kafka) - Fanatics Markets

About Fanatics Markets

Fanatics Markets is the real-money prediction and trading app where you can invest in moments you care about. Built on a secure platform, we let users predict real-world outcomes and trade on events they actually follow - from sports and entertainment to political elections and beyond. Our mission is to redefine how fans engage with the moments and markets that matter most. We're looking for the right people to help us build the future of prediction markets.

Role Overview 

As a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Fanatics Markets, you’ll be responsible for powering the rapidly growing Fanatics Markets app. In your role you'll be recognized as a technical leader, combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution. 

You'll lead ambitious projects, setting the standard for your team through innovative solutions. Your bold decisions will strike the right balance between addressing immediate business needs and ensuring long-term technical excellence. Through your leadership, you’ll foster a culture of excellence and innovation, leaving a lasting impact on both your immediate team and the broader mobile development community.

In this role you will lead the design and scaling of our distributed systems. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of hands-on coding, architecture, and technical leadership, and who can influence engineering direction while mentoring others.

Responsibilities

• Foster a culture and mindset of well-designed systems, test-driven software, and transparent communication with a high caliber of mutual respect and consideration for stakeholders
• Design and scale distributed systems using Kotlin, Java, and Spring Boot.
• Build and optimize data-intensive applications with Postgres, Kafka, and Redis/Redis PubSub.
• Drive system reliability, scalability, and performance across services and infrastructure.
• Partner with product and engineering leadership to align technical strategy with business goals.
• Mentor engineers and set standards for coding, design, and best practices.
• Actively participate in code reviews, maintain technical documentation, and adhere to best software development practices.

Qualifications

• Strong coding skills and solid understanding of algorithms and data structures
• 10 plus years of software engineering experience, with expertise in distributed systems.
• Strong skills in Java (or Kotlin), Spring Boot, and modern API design (REST, gRPC, and Protobuf).
• Deep experience with Kafka and Redis.
• Hands-on with Kubernetes, Helm, Terraform, and cloud-native infrastructure.
• Proven ability to influence architecture, guide teams, and deliver at scale.
• Solid understanding of the software development process, including unit testing and release management
• B.S, M.S. or PhD in Computer Science or equivalent experience

Salary Range: $163,400-$268,750 per year

The base salary for this role is based on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience and may vary depending on the successful candidate’s geographic location. Remote employees may also be eligible for a home office setup stipend. For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/

Depending on the role, your interview and onboarding experience may include in-person components, such as onsite interviews or Launching into Better: LIVE—a multi-day cultural immersion in New York City for full-time, non-seasonal hires. These sessions are designed to build connection and bring our culture to life, though specific travel and participation requirements will be confirmed based on your role and location. Your recruiter will provide clear guidance at each stage of the process.

Launched in 2021, Fanatics Betting and Gaming is the online and retail sports betting subsidiary of Fanatics, a global digital sports platform. The Fanatics Sportsbook is available to 95% of the addressable online sports bettor market in the U.S. Fanatics Casino is currently available online in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Fanatics Betting and Gaming operates twenty-two retail sports betting locations, including the only sportsbook inside an NFL stadium at Northwest Stadium. Fanatics Betting and Gaming is headquartered in New York with offices in Denver, Leeds and Dublin.