At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead backend systems for next-gen gaming and social experiences.
- Company: Join Electronic Arts, a leader in interactive entertainment and gaming culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work, healthcare, mental well-being support, and complimentary games.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative community shaping the future of entertainment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in backend development; strong leadership and cloud expertise required.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a focus on growth and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 Β£ per year.
Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. We are seeking a Director of Backend Engineering to lead and scale our backend systems powering next-generation social and gaming experiences. You will bring deep expertise in high-performance, cloud-native services and lead a talented engineering team in delivering resilient, scalable platforms that support rapid innovation and global reach. This is a hybrid based role, working 3 days in our Southam office.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drive the technical direction and architecture of backend systems supporting live services and social experiences.
- Lead and mentor a high-performing team of backend engineers, promoting technical excellence and growth.
- Drive engineering execution and prioritise scalable, secure, and performant system design.
- Collaborate closely with product, design, and frontend teams to deliver end-to-end features.
- Make architectural decisions across technologies including C#, Kubernetes, AWS, SQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
- Support our DevOps team with defining best practices and overseeing CI/CD pipelines as well as observability tools for backend operations.
- Foster a strong culture of agile development, code quality, and continuous improvement.
How Your Success Will Be Measured:
- System performance, uptime, and scalability across live production environments.
- Velocity and quality of backend feature delivery in alignment with product roadmaps.
- Engineering team health, retention, and technical development.
- Ability to support rapid iteration without compromising backend reliability or security.
What You Bring:
- 10+ years of experience in backend systems development, ideally with large-scale, cloud-based platforms.
- 5+ years in technical leadership roles, including managing backend-focused engineering teams.
- Deep knowledge of C#/.NET, Kubernetes orchestration, and AWS services.
- Strong experience with data storage technologies including relational (SQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB) databases.
- Experience with C++ is considered beneficial.
- Proven ability to balance fast feature delivery with building for long-term scalability and maintainability.
- Skilled in CI/CD, automated testing, service monitoring, and incident response.
- Familiarity with modern dev practices including trunk-based development and microservices architecture.
- Experience with Microsoft's Orleans framework is a bonus.
Soft Skills & Values:
- Collaborative leader with a passion for building innovative, high-impact products.
- Excellent communicator able to translate complex technical concepts into clear direction.
- Committed to building inclusive, high-performance teams that thrive on trust and autonomy.
Weβre proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer.
Director of Backend Engineering employer: Electronic Arts
Contact Detail:
Electronic Arts Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Director of Backend Engineering
β¨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as C#, Kubernetes, and AWS. Having hands-on experience or projects that showcase your skills in these areas will make you stand out during discussions.
β¨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences in mentoring teams. Highlight examples where you've successfully led backend engineering teams, focusing on how you fostered collaboration and technical excellence.
β¨Tip Number 3
Research Electronic Arts' current projects and their approach to interactive storytelling. Being able to speak knowledgeably about their franchises and how your role could contribute to their vision will demonstrate your genuine interest in the company.
β¨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of agile development practices and CI/CD processes. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these methodologies in past roles to improve system performance and team efficiency.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Backend Engineering
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in backend systems development, particularly with cloud-based platforms. Emphasise your technical leadership roles and any specific technologies mentioned in the job description, such as C#, Kubernetes, and AWS.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building innovative products and your commitment to fostering inclusive teams. Mention specific projects or experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead high-performing engineering teams and deliver scalable solutions.
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on achievements that align with the responsibilities of the Director of Backend Engineering role. Highlight your experience with CI/CD, automated testing, and any relevant data storage technologies like SQL and MongoDB.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to backend architecture and system design. Be ready to discuss your approach to balancing fast feature delivery with long-term scalability and maintainability, as well as your familiarity with modern development practices.
How to prepare for a job interview at Electronic Arts
β¨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Director of Backend Engineering, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep knowledge in backend systems, particularly with technologies like C#, Kubernetes, and AWS. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies and how they contributed to system performance and scalability.
β¨Emphasise Leadership Experience
Highlight your experience in leading and mentoring engineering teams. Share examples of how you've fostered a culture of technical excellence and collaboration, and how you've supported team members in their professional growth. This will show that you can not only manage but also inspire your team.
β¨Discuss Agile Development Practices
Since the role involves fostering a strong culture of agile development, be ready to talk about your experience with agile methodologies. Provide examples of how you've implemented agile practices in past projects and the impact it had on delivery speed and team dynamics.
β¨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making process. Think about challenges you've faced in previous roles, particularly regarding system reliability and security, and how you approached those situations. This will help demonstrate your ability to balance fast feature delivery with long-term maintainability.