At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and scale backend systems for global commerce and real-time transactions.
- Company: Join Fanatics, a leading digital sports platform igniting fan passions worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Mentorship opportunities and a chance to shape the future of sports collectibles.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team revolutionising the collectibles experience for millions of fans.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in backend engineering with expertise in distributed systems and APIs.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About Us
Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximise 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, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform.
Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally.
About The Team
Fanatics Collectibles is a new company operating at the intersection of collectibles, culture, and technology. Backed by world-class investors, operators, and sports & entertainment partners, we are building the global leader in next-generation collectibles. As part of the broader Fanatics ecosystem, we leverage a digital sports platform that spans over 900 sports properties and engages more than 81 million fans. Together, we are reimagining every part of the collectibles experience for fans, partners, and creators.
Fanatics Collect sits at the centre of Fanatics’ global digital platform, combining content, community, and commerce into a real-time experience. As we expand internationally, the platform must evolve to support multi-region transactions, compliance, and scalable infrastructure across markets.
Role Summary
Fanatics Collect is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to lead the evolution of the Collect platform to support international expansion and acquisition integration. This role focuses on building and scaling transaction systems that enable global commerce, while adapting an existing real-time platform to support new markets. You will play a key role in addressing backend capacity constraints and shaping a shared transaction layer used across multiple business lines.
What You’ll Actually Work On
- Designing and scaling systems that support multi-currency, cross-border transactions
- Building and extending a shared transaction and ledger layer
- Supporting integration of newly acquired platform capabilities into Live
- Designing APIs for frontend, mobile, and seller platform use cases
- Handling real-world complexity including currency conversion, fees, reconciliation, and refunds
- Supporting region-specific requirements such as tax, shipping, and compliance
- Improving performance and scalability of real-time transaction systems
Key Responsibilities
- Own backend services in a high-scale, real-time environment
- Lead architectural decisions across transaction and platform systems
- Mentor engineers and raise backend engineering standards
- Partner closely with frontend and mobile teams to deliver global experiences
- Collaborate with existing Live team members to ensure continuity and execution
- Code-writing contribution – highly hands-on, with responsibility for designing and implementing critical backend systems
What We’re Looking For
- 6+ years backend engineering experience
- Strong experience designing distributed systems and APIs
- Deep experience building or scaling payment, ledger, or transaction systems in production environments
- Experience with Elixir and GraphQL preferred
- Background in eCommerce or transaction-heavy platforms operating across regions
- Ability to evolve existing systems pragmatically in fast-moving environments
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity with a strong sense of ownership
Senior Backend Engineer - Live & Collect in London employer: Fanatics
Fanatics is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly for the Remote Senior Software Engineer III role in Leeds. With a strong emphasis on employee growth through mentorship opportunities and a flexible work environment, Fanatics supports both personal and professional development while encouraging team collaboration. The company's commitment to high-performance solutions and cutting-edge technology makes it a rewarding place for engineers looking to make a significant impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Backend Engineer - Live & Collect in London
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Fanatics or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Fanatics.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Fanatics.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Fanatics that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Backend Engineer - Live & Collect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Fanatics.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Fanatics and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fanatics
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Fanatics uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
