Software Engineer; Java, Kotlin, Kafka - Fanatics Markets

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

United States (Remote)

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.

As a Staff, Distributed Software Engineer
, 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.

• 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 Pub Sub.
• 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.

• Strong coding skills and solid understanding of algorithms and data structures
• 9+ 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

Remote employee may also be eligible for a home office setup stipend.

The expected salary range for this role is based on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. This role is eligible for the Fanatics Betting and Gaming annual bonus program and an equity award.
* Salary range is listed in USD; actual salary will vary based on location.
* Salary Range: $180,500-$237,000 per year (actual salary will be determined in part by a successful candidate’s geographic location). In addition to base salary, bonus, and equity, full‑time employees are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, paid time off, and other benefits like Gym Pass, Pet Insurance, Family Care Benefits, and more. We’ll also give you $700 to set up your home office!

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods;

collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia,…