Senior Lead Architect (Backend)

TL;DR

Senior Lead Architect (Backend): Designing and evolving backend architecture for a Marketing Technology ecosystem with an accent on scalability, maintainability, and operational resilience. Focus on service decomposition, API design, and GCP infrastructure automation to support high-scale gaming platforms.

Location: Onsite in Santa Monica, CA (4 days per week)

Salary: $149,100 - $275,876 Annual

Company

A leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of iconic gaming and entertainment franchises.

What you will do

• Define and evolve backend architecture for shared services, APIs, and cloud-hosted platforms.
• Lead architecture and design reviews for service decomposition and platform modernization efforts.
• Establish engineering standards for API design, service contracts, deployment patterns, and observability.
• Partner with SREs to troubleshoot production issues and implement durable, long-term fixes.
• Design reusable infrastructure and automation patterns across GCP and related workflows.
• Mentor senior engineers and serve as the technical escalation point for distributed systems.

Requirements

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, including significant time in senior backend or architecture roles.
• Deep expertise in Java or similar backend languages, microservices, and distributed systems.
• Strong knowledge of containers, CI/CD, and security patterns in modern cloud environments.
• Must be based in or able to work from the Santa Monica, CA office on a 4-day onsite schedule.
• Ability to influence multiple teams without direct authority to translate business needs into technical solutions.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance including HSA/FSA options.
• 401(k) with company match and tuition reimbursement.
• Generous paid time off, including holidays, vacation, sick time, and parental leave.
• Mental health and wellbeing programs, and fitness programs.
• Access to free and discounted games.