Homeoffice Lead Software Engineer

*This is a fully remote role. Playnetic has always been a remote company, and this will always be the case*

About Playnetic

Playnetic is a fully remote company in the world of iGaming entertainment. We design and build slot games from scratch - from idea to release. Our games will be played in regulated markets globally through industry-leading operators.

Our innovative iGaming content is centred around our core values: quality gaming, dedicated customer service, and reliable delivery to our partners.

We're currently in a phase of growth and will scale considerably over the next 12 months. As a fully remote company, we understand the importance of staying connected and maintaining team collaboration. We are continually mindful of this as we grow and have the tools and support in place to help us all flourish.

You'll be joining us during an exciting time of transition and transformation.

We are launching a new product and creating a new team from the ground up. You (the Engineering Lead) would be the first key hire. You'll be responsible for hiring, building, and leading a small team of six. We need someone who is both technical and hands-on, so if you are past the days of rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in, you won't like this role.

As we launch the new product, you're setting the direction for how we approach the build. You'll need to come in, manage effectively, think creatively, and establish the processes necessary for a successful first build.

This role offers the potential for growth as additional teams may be needed, depending on the product's success and performance.

Working in a start-up means navigating constant change; you've probably already done this, so you know what we mean! You'll thrive in this environment, be comfortable with is, and weirdly prefer the ups and downs this all brings!

Team Structure

• Reporting directly to the CTO
• Working alongside the platform team building the backend and the architecture

The Interview Process

• A call with our Talent Partner
• Interview with our CTO - A chat about your experience and for you to both establish if this role is right for you
• Final stage - A technical interview with one of our Architects

Key Responsibilities:

• Hands-On Development: Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code in Java, setting a high standard for the team. Lead by example, contributing directly to the codebase and taking ownership of critical components.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, mentor, and support a team of Java developers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture. Provide technical guidance, conduct code reviews, and assist in professional growth.
• Technical Architecture: Design and implement robust, scalable, and maintainable architecture for our gaming platform. Make key technical decisions and drive the adoption of best practices in software development.
• Project Management: Work closely with the product management and design teams to translate requirements into technical tasks. Manage timelines, prioritize tasks, and ensure that projects are delivered on schedule.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with other departments, including game design, art, and QA, to align engineering efforts with company goals. Ensure seamless integration of backend services with frontend game features.
• Performance Optimization: Focus on optimizing the performance, scalability, and reliability of the gaming platform. Proactively identify bottlenecks and implement solutions to enhance the user experience.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Stay up-to-date with the latest Java technologies, tools, and frameworks. Advocate for the integration of new technologies and methodologies that can improve our development process and game quality.
• Recruitment: Participate in the hiring process to attract and recruit top Java engineering talent to the team.

Qualifications:

• Experience: 5+ years of experience in software engineering with a strong focus on Java, including at least 2 years in a leadership or team lead role. Experience in the gaming industry is a plus.
• Java Expertise: Deep expertise in Java and related frameworks (e.g., Spring, Hibernate). Experience with game server development, backend systems, and multiplayer networking is highly desirable.
• Leadership Skills: Proven experience in leading and mentoring engineering teams. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate and resolve complex technical challenges in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for Gaming: A strong passion for gaming and an understanding of the gaming landscape. Ability to think from a player's perspective and drive innovative solutions.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

How we work & our benefits

• Flexible working hours - Flexible working at Playnetic is actually flexible! No core working hours; work how you work best. We operate a common sense and goal-driven approach that helps you and us track success.
• Unlimited holidays - We respect the importance of work-life balance, which is why we believe in unlimited holidays. The only thing we ask is you take at least 25 days!
• Private healthcare - Including dental, optical, hearing, and all mental health support
• Company pension