At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop business logic for real-time ad serving using Lua and C++.
- Company: Join Zeta Global, a leading AI-powered marketing cloud company.
- Benefits: Enjoy excellent medical coverage, remote work options, and a supportive culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make an impact in programmatic advertising while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in backend development; experience with Lua is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Zeta Global (NYSE: ZETA) is the AI-Powered Marketing Cloud that leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and trillions of consumer signals to make it easier for marketers to acquire, grow, and retain customers more efficiently. Through the Zeta Marketing Platform (ZMP), our vision is to make sophisticated marketing simple by unifying identity, intelligence, and omnichannel activation into a single platform – powered by one of the industry’s largest proprietary databases and AI.
As a Senior Software Engineer on the LiveIntent Real-Time Ad Serving team, you will design, develop, and own the business logic that powers programmatic advertising at scale — ad selection, targeting, frequency capping, budget pacing, and delivery optimization. The real-time platform is built on C++ and Lua: C++ provides the high-performance server framework, while Lua implements the business logic layer. You will work primarily in Lua, developing and evolving the features that directly serve LiveIntent's product — ensuring advertisers get the best outcomes and publishers maximize their revenue.
This is a hands-on engineering role where your code runs in production handling billions of daily transactions. This is a hybrid/remote role based out of our Berlin, Germany or Prague, Czech Republic offices.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES- Develop and optimize business logic in Lua for ad selection, targeting, frequency capping, and budget pacing
- Design, build, and maintain real-time services processing 200K+ requests per second with strict latency requirements
- Work closely with Product to deliver features that meet advertiser and publisher needs
- Ensure code quality through code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration
- Participate in architecture discussions and influence the technical roadmap
- Participate in on-call rotation to support production systems
- 5+ years of software engineering experience in backend development
- Deep understanding of computer science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, performance optimization
- Experience building and operating distributed systems in production
- Exposure to the full software development lifecycle — from design to production and monitoring
- Strong commitment to code quality, automated testing, and documentation
- Proficient English (the interview process will be held in English)
- Experience with Lua or willingness to learn (we provide time and the right environment)
- Experience in online advertising / ad tech (RTB, programmatic, DSP/SSP) is a plus
- Proficiency in a systems-level language (C++, Go, Rust, or Java) is a plus
- Experience with MongoDB and real-time data processing is a plus
- Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS) at scale is a plus
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools and agentic workflows is a plus
- Experience with OpenRTB protocol and ad exchange integrations is a plus
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage
Zeta considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Zeta discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. We’re committed to building a workplace culture of trust and belonging, so everyone feels invited to bring their whole selves to work. We provide a forum for employees to celebrate, support and advocate for one another.
Senior Software Engineer — Real-Time Ad Serving in London employer: Zeta Global
Zeta Global is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for Senior Software Engineers to thrive. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, employees are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work while benefiting from excellent medical coverage and opportunities for professional growth. The hybrid/remote work model based in vibrant cities like Berlin and Prague offers a unique advantage, allowing for a balanced work-life experience in dynamic environments.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Engineer — Real-Time Ad Serving in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with current employees at Zeta Global. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a GitHub or portfolio, make sure it’s up to date. Share projects that highlight your experience with backend development and any work with Lua or similar languages.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of real-time systems and ad tech. Be ready to discuss how you’d tackle challenges in ad selection and delivery optimisation — they’ll want to see your thought process!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Engineer — Real-Time Ad Serving in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience with backend development and any relevant languages. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back!
Tailor Your Application:Take a moment to customise your application for this specific role. Mention your experience with Lua or your willingness to learn it, as well as any exposure to online advertising or ad tech. It shows us you’re genuinely interested!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your past experiences and achievements. We appreciate clarity, and it helps us understand your journey better.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zeta Global
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with C++ and Lua, as these are crucial for the role. Brush up on your knowledge of backend development and be ready to discuss how you've used these languages in past projects.
✨Understand Real-Time Systems
Since you'll be working on real-time ad serving, it’s essential to grasp the principles of low-latency systems. Prepare to talk about your experience with high-performance applications and how you’ve optimised them in the past.
✨Showcase Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to tackle technical questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think of examples where you’ve had to optimise code or troubleshoot issues in production environments, especially in distributed systems.
✨Engage with Product Collaboration
This role involves close collaboration with product teams, so highlight any experience you have working cross-functionally. Discuss how you’ve contributed to feature development and how you ensure that technical solutions meet user needs.
