At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the backend architecture for our Casino and Sportsbook apps, shaping technical direction.
- Company: Join Hard Rock Digital, a passionate team redefining online gaming and entertainment.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, flexible hours, and a vibrant startup culture.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values authenticity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 10+ years experience, strong AI tool usage, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Hard Rock Digital is a team focused on becoming the best online sportsbook, casino, and social gaming company in the world. We’re building a team that resonates passion for learning, operating and building new products and technologies for millions of consumers. We care about each customer's interaction, experience, behaviour, and insight and strive to ensure we’re always acting authentically. Rooted in the kindred spirits of Hard Rock and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the new Hard Rock Digital taps a brand known the world over as the leader in gaming, entertainment, and hospitality.
We are looking for a Principal Backend Engineer to join our rapidly growing Casino Technology Team, responsible for continuous growth and support of our Casino and Sportsbook apps. This Engineer will set technical direction across multiple teams and have significant ownership over the shape of our backend architecture. It is an exciting and rewarding opportunity.
As a principal-level backend engineer, you will:
- Set the technical direction and architecture for complex, cross-team systems
- Contribute to the design and implementation of complex features
- Work with other Principal Engineers and Architects across the entire Technical Team, and act as a mentor to Staff and Senior Engineers
- Be a trusted technical advisor for various stakeholders such as Engineering Managers, Technical VPs and Product Managers, influencing roadmap and architectural decisions
- Be technically talented, able to contribute quality code, and be passionate about the technology - including how AI-assisted tools are changing the way we design, build, and ship software
- Perform Code Reviews and coach Developers, Senior Engineers and Staff Engineers on why certain technical approaches need to be taken
- Be responsible for the quality, scope, and timeliness of all your deliverables
- Champion the adoption of AI-assisted development practices and tools across the team, helping raise the bar on engineering velocity and code quality
We are looking for an engineer who is willing to tackle problems with innovative ideas and quality technical implementations. The ideal candidate will have:
- Min of 10+ years work experience
- Hands-on experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g. GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor) in your day-to-day workflow, and a genuine enthusiasm for how AI is changing software engineering
- Strong communication skills in English (both written and verbal)
- Experience working for a company with large volumes of traffic, where every technical decision needs to be able to carry the load of our customer base
- A deep understanding of AWS Cloud technologies and how to create scalable multi-region applications
- Experience with the following technologies: Java and Spring / SpringBoot, RDBMS (e.g. Postgresql, CockroachDB), Streaming technologies (Amazon Kinesis, Kafka), Message Queues (SQS, RabbitMQ, ActiveMQ)
- Experience working within an agile development
- Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes, etc)
- Experience with Micro-Service and Service oriented architectures
- Nice to have experience in the Casino industry or an equivalent regulated industry such as Banking, or experience championing the adoption of AI-assisted engineering practices (e.g. AI code generation, AI-assisted code review, agentic coding tools) within an engineering organization
We offer our employees more than just competitive compensation. Our team benefits include:
- Competitive pay and benefits
- Flexible vacation allowance
- Flexible work from home or office hours
- Startup culture backed by a secure, global brand
- Opportunity to build products enjoyed by millions as part of a passionate team
We care deeply about every interaction our customers have with us, and trust and empower our staff to own and drive their experience. Our vision for our business and customers is built on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where regardless of background or beliefs you feel able to be authentic and bring all your talent into play. We want to celebrate you being you (we are an equal opportunities employer).
Principal Backend Engineer - Casino employer: Hard Rock Digital
Hard Rock Digital is an exceptional employer that fosters a startup culture within a secure, global brand, offering employees the chance to take ownership of their work and contribute to innovative products enjoyed by millions. With flexible vacation allowances, remote work options, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, we empower our staff to be authentic and thrive in their roles. Join us in creating the best online sportsbook experience while being part of a passionate and dedicated team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Backend Engineer - Casino
✨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 Hard Rock Digital 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 Hard Rock Digital.
✨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 Hard Rock Digital.
✨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 Hard Rock Digital 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 Principal Backend Engineer - Casino
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 Hard Rock Digital.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Hard Rock Digital 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 Hard Rock Digital
✨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 Hard Rock Digital 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.
