At a Glance
- Tasks: Architect and build backend services for a cutting-edge pricing engine in sports.
- Company: Join Hard Rock Digital, a leader in gaming and entertainment, now going digital.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible vacation, hybrid work, and a startup culture.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace where you can be your authentic self.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment with complex engineering challenges.
- Qualifications: 8+ years backend experience, strong Python skills, and knowledge of real-time systems.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Hard Rock Digital is a team focused on becoming the best online sportsbook, casino, and social casino 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're taking that foundation of success and bringing it to the digital space.
We are looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join our Quantitative Sports team. We’re building the next generation of our in‑house pricing engine — a low‑latency, high‑throughput system that powers live odds for millions of users. As a Senior Backend Engineer, you’ll own major architectural decisions, partner directly with quantitative analysts, and shape the core backend that drives our sportsbook. This is a high‑impact role with significant autonomy. If you thrive in fast‑moving environments and love solving complex real‑time engineering challenges, you’ll feel at home here.
What You’ll Do
- Architect and build backend services that operate reliably under intense data and user load
- Reduce system latency and optimize real‑time performance across the pricing pipeline
- Collaborate closely with quantitative developers to integrate models and pricing logic
- Design and maintain ingestion pipelines for multiple live data feeds
- Implement robust testing and monitoring to ensure system resilience
- Build internal tools that support trading, operations, and analytics teams
- Contribute to technical strategy and long‑term platform evolution
- Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and engineering excellence
Core Requirements
- 8+ years of backend engineering experience
- Deep proficiency in Python for production systems
- Experience with low‑latency, real‑time, or high‑throughput systems
- Background in multi‑feed ingestion architectures
- Strong understanding of microservices and distributed systems
- Experience deploying and operating systems in AWS
- Familiarity with relational databases (Postgres, MySQL)
- Experience with analytical stores (Snowflake, ClickHouse)
- Strong knowledge of messaging systems (Kafka, RabbitMQ)
- Excellent communication skills and comfort working cross‑functionally
Bonus Points
- Experience with pricing engines, trading algorithms, or live odds generation
- Interest in sports and sport analytics
- Familiarity with game state feeds such as Radar & Genius
- Prior hands-on experience in sportsbook platforms is highly desirable
Who you are
- Self-driven and comfortable owning large areas of the system
- Meticulous in your approach to testing, reliability, and performance
- Able to prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment
- Excited by complex technical challenges and real-time systems
What’s In It for You?
We offer our employees more than just competitive compensation. Our team benefits include:
- Competitive pay and benefits.
- Flexible vacation allowance.
- A hybrid / remote working environment.
- Startup culture backed by a secure, global brand.
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 opportunity employer).
Senior Backend Engineer - Quantitative Sports 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 Senior Backend Engineer - Quantitative Sports
✨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 Senior Backend Engineer - Quantitative Sports
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.
