Senior Backend Engineer

Job Description

Senior Backend Engineer - Real-Time Trading Platform ChartRaider Gaming PlatformCompany Overview Join our innovative team building ChartRaider, a cutting-edge real-time trading simulation platform that combines the excitement of competitive gaming with financial market education. Our platform enables up to 1000 concurrent users to participate in live trading matches using real BTCUSDT price feeds in a gamified environment. Position Summary We are seeking an exceptional Senior Backend Engineer to architect, implement, and scale our real-time multiplayer trading platform. This role requires deep expertise in building high-performance, fault-tolerant systems capable of handling intense real-time interactions, complex matchmaking logic, and sophisticated trading mechanics. The ideal candidate will have proven experience designing microservices architectures, implementing real-time communication systems, and managing cloud infrastructure at scale. You'll be working on a system that processes live financial data, manages concurrent user sessions, and provides seamless real-time experiences across multiple game modes. Key ResponsibilitiesSystem Architecture & Design Design and implement a scalable microservices architecture supporting concurrent real-time trading matches for 1000+ users Architect fault-tolerant systems with proper separation of concerns between API services, real-time services, and background workers Design and optimize data flow patterns for high-frequency trading simulations and live leaderboard updates Implement robust session management and reconnection logic for seamless user experiences during network interruptions Real-Time Systems Development Build and maintain WebSocket-based real-time communication systems using Socket.IO for live trading interactions Implement low-latency price feed integration with external financial data providers (Binance WebSocket API) Design and optimize Redis-based state management for live match data, player positions, and real-time leaderboards Develop complex trading logic including position management, stop-loss/take-profit automation, and profit/loss calculations Matchmaking & Game Logic Implement sophisticated matchmaking algorithms with atomic operations to ensure fair and balanced matches Design and build background worker systems for asynchronous match formation and data persistence Develop complex in-match mechanics including Action Bar progression, Peek Meter abilities, and Trade Delay features Create robust queue management systems with proper handling of edge cases and failure scenarios API Development & Integration Design comprehensive RESTful APIs for lobby management, user configuration, and historical data access Implement secure authentication and authorization systems using JWT tokens Build notification systems supporting both real-time alerts and persistent messaging Develop admin interfaces and monitoring endpoints for system health and match management Cloud Infrastructure & DevOps Manage AWS infrastructure including EC2 Auto Scaling Groups, Application Load Balancers, and ElastiCache clusters Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions for automated testing and deployment Design disaster recovery procedures and implement proper backup strategies for critical data Monitor system performance and implement alerting for critical system metrics Data Management Design efficient database schemas using PostgreSQL for user data, match results, and audit trails Implement proper data persistence patterns with background workers for non-blocking database operations Optimize Redis usage for caching, session management, and real-time state storage Ensure data consistency across distributed systems and implement proper transaction management Required Technical SkillsCore Technologies Node.js & Express : Minimum 5+ years of production experience building scalable backend services WebSocket Technologies : Extensive experience with Socket.IO or similar real-time communication frameworks Redis : Advanced knowledge of Redis data structures, pub/sub patterns, and cluster management PostgreSQL : Strong database design skills and experience with complex queries and optimization TypeScript : Proficiency in type-safe JavaScript development and modern ES6+ features Cloud & Infrastructure AWS Services : Hands-on experience with EC2, Auto Scaling Groups, Application Load Balancers, ElastiCache, and RDS Containerization : Experience with Docker and container orchestration (bonus: ECS/Fargate experience) CI/CD : Practical experience implementing automated deployment pipelines and infrastructure as code Monitoring : Familiarity with CloudWatch, logging strategies, and system observability practices Distributed Systems Microservices : Proven experience designing and implementing service-oriented architectures Message Queues : Experience with Redis pub/sub, job queues, and asynchronous processing patterns API Design : Strong understanding of RESTful API design principles and WebSocket event handling Caching Strategies : Knowledge of distributed caching patterns and cache invalidation strategies Preferred QualificationsAdvanced Experience Financial Systems : Previous experience building trading platforms, financial data processing, or real-time market data systems Gaming Backend : Experience with multiplayer game servers, matchmaking systems, or real-time gaming platforms High-Scale Systems : Demonstrated experience building systems handling 1000+ concurrent connections Performance Optimization : Track record of identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks in distributed systems Additional Technical Skills Serverless Technologies : Experience with AWS Lambda, Fargate, or other serverless computing platforms Monitoring & Observability : Familiarity with X-Ray, Datadog, New Relic, or similar monitoring solutions Security : Knowledge of authentication systems, secure API design, and data protection practices Load Testing : Experience with performance testing tools and strategies for validating system scalability What You'll Be Working OnImmediate Projects Migrate from monolithic architecture to distributed microservices running on Auto Scaling Groups Implement ElastiCache Redis clusters for improved performance and horizontal scaling Build comprehensive matchmaking system supporting multiple game modes and skill-based matching Develop real-time trading engine with complex position management and automated execution features Future Initiatives Transition to containerized deployments using ECS and Fargate for improved scalability and deployment velocity Implement advanced observability with distributed tracing and comprehensive monitoring dashboards Build sophisticated anti-cheat systems and fraud detection mechanisms Expand platform to support additional trading instruments beyond BTCUSDT Team & CultureCollaboration You'll work closely with our frontend developers building the Electron desktop application and web interface, product managers defining game mechanics and user experiences, and DevOps engineers managing our cloud infrastructure. We value technical excellence, code quality, and collaborative problem-solving. Growth Opportunities This role offers significant opportunities for technical leadership and architectural decision-making. You'll have the chance to influence major technology choices, mentor junior developers, and shape the technical direction of our platform as we scale to serve thousands of concurrent users. Technical Challenges You'll SolveScalability Problems Design systems that gracefully handle traffic spikes during peak trading hours Implement efficient resource utilization across multiple AWS Availability Zones Optimize database queries and caching strategies for sub-second response times Build auto-scaling infrastructure that responds dynamically to user demand Real-Time Complexity Ensure consistent state management across distributed WebSocket connections Handle edge cases in real-time trading scenarios including network interruptions and race conditions Implement fair and accurate profit/loss calculations with precise timing requirements Design resilient systems that maintain data integrity during high-frequency updates Integration Challenges Build reliable connections to external financial data providers with proper error handling and circuit breakers Implement seamless user experience across desktop and web platforms Design APIs that support both real-time and historical data access patterns Create monitoring systems that provide actionable insights into system performance How to Apply Please submit your resume along with a cover letter describing your experience with real-time systems and distributed architectures. Include specific examples of scalable backend systems you've built and any experience with financial or gaming platforms. We're particularly interested in hearing about complex technical challenges you've solved and your approach to system design at scale. This role requires the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing requirements and the flexibility to adapt technical solutions as our platform evolves. We're looking for someone who thrives on technical challenges and is excited about building the next generation of financial education gaming platforms.