Lead Backend Developer (Java, AI)

TL;DR

Lead Backend Developer (Java/AI): Leading the backend track of a cross-functional squad building scalable, high-load services for a gaming platform with an accent on system design, engineering excellence, and AI-driven development. Focus on mentoring engineers, driving complex feature delivery, and ensuring system reliability in a high-throughput environment.

Location: Must be based in Ukraine

Company

hirify.global is a product company dedicated to revolutionizing the Free-to-Play Social Casino and gaming industry through AI-driven engineering and captivating user experiences.

What you will do

• Lead backend development within a cross-functional squad, providing technical guidance and fostering a strong code review culture.
• Own services end-to-end, from initial requirements and system design through to production deployment and operation.
• Guide complex, multi-quarter features through the full delivery lifecycle.
• Collaborate closely with frontend, QA, and product teams to ensure seamless feature delivery.
• Mentor engineers on architecture, best practices, and production troubleshooting.
• Shape system designs and contribute to the overall technical roadmap.

Requirements

• Location: Must be based in Ukraine.
• Expert-level Java (latest LTS) and deep Spring expertise.
• Proven system design experience with RDBMS/SQL.
• Experience as a Technical Lead guiding engineers and driving major initiatives.
• Effective use of AI-assisted development tools in daily engineering work.
• English: B2+ level required for global collaboration.

Nice to have

• Experience operating high-throughput, latency-sensitive systems like real-time gaming or event-driven architectures with Kafka.
• Hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud deployments.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in an AI-driven engineering organization where AI is a core productivity multiplier.
• Collaborate with a global team of talented professionals.
• Focus on architectural ownership and high engineering standards.
• Opportunity to work on high-load, scalable gaming products.