Backend Engineer (Java, API)
Role summary
Fanatics is seeking a Backend Engineer to design, develop, and maintain scalable, high-performance systems for their unified sports platform, including the Fanatics App. This role involves leading complex feature development from concept to deployment, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and mentoring junior engineers. The ideal candidate will have 7+ years of experience in backend distributed systems, proficiency in Java/Kotlin with Spring, and expertise in messaging technologies like Kafka and event-driven architectures. Responsibilities include driving technical execution, enforcing best practices, leading incident resolution, and contributing to team strategy and operational excellence. This is a remote, full-time position offering competitive compensation and benefits.
About The Company
Fanatics is a global leader in licensed sports merchandise and digital commerce, renowned for delivering innovative and engaging experiences to sports fans worldwide. The company operates a comprehensive platform that integrates e-commerce, live events, gaming, and entertainment, creating a unified sports ecosystem. Fanatics' commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights positions it at the forefront of the sports retail industry, enabling fans to connect with their favorite teams and athletes in meaningful ways. With a diverse portfolio of brands and a focus on continuous innovation, Fanatics strives to provide exceptional customer experiences and foster a passionate sports community.
About The Role
As a Backend Engineer at Fanatics, you will be instrumental in designing, developing, testing, and maintaining scalable and high-performance systems that enhance the customer experience across our digital platforms. You will work on the Fanatics App, which consolidates elements from various brands and business units, delivering a unified sports platform that includes free-to-play sports games, live events, e-commerce, and new product experiences. Your role involves collaborating closely with cross-functional teams including product managers, designers, and other engineers to build innovative solutions that meet both current and future business needs. You will lead complex feature development from conception to deployment, ensuring adherence to best practices and high-quality standards. Additionally, you will mentor junior engineers, contribute to technical strategy, and champion operational excellence and reliability within the team.
Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience building highly scalable, performant, and evolvable backend distributed systems
- Proficiency in Spring with Kotlin and/or Java is a plus
- Demonstrated ability to drive best practices in backend development and mentor others in effective coding and architectural strategies
- Expertise in messaging technologies such as Kafka, Kinesis, Flink, or Amazon SQS
- Solid understanding of event-driven architectures and observability practices, including logging, monitoring, and tracing in distributed systems
- Experience with Agile software delivery methodologies and driving process improvements across teams
- Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences
- Strong team-first mentality with a willingness to adapt in a high-growth environment
Responsibilities
- Drive the development, testing, documentation, and deployment of high-quality, scalable software into production
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the industry, product, architecture, and roadmap to influence team strategy and organizational direction
- Lead the end-to-end technical execution of complex features and systems from ideation to deployment and refinement
- Define and enforce engineering principles, guidelines, and best practices to ensure code quality and maintainability
- Partner closely with product, design, and other stakeholders to make high-impact technical decisions aligned with business goals and scalability
- Lead incident resolution as part of the on-call rotation, ensuring swift diagnosis and remediation of critical issues
- Conduct root-cause analysis and lead triage efforts for reliability issues
- Collaborate across teams to bring complex features and projects from prototype to production
- Contribute to engineering excellence through documentation, tooling improvements, code reviews, and knowledge sharing
- Lead team planning and design discussions, introducing innovative approaches to solve technical challenges
- Champion improvements to software quality, testability, operational metrics, and team documentation
- Mentor and coach engineers at all levels, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth
- Occasionally travel to Fanatics offices and other locations for conferences, meetings, and team-building activities
Benefits
- Competitive salary range of $180,000 to $237,500, based on experience and qualifications
- Potential eligibility for short-term and long-term incentive compensation
- Remote work flexibility with a home office setup stipend
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
- Paid time off and holiday leave
- Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
- Participation in innovative projects within a dynamic and growing organization
Equal Opportunity
Fanatics is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We believe in fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute to our shared success.