Platform Engineer III - Middleware

Overview

As a Software Engineer III – Middleware Platform at Fanatics Betting & Gaming (FBG), you will play a critical role in building out our Data and Platform Engineering capabilities. This role reports to our Director of Platform Engineering and is responsible for defining, implementing, training, and executing our middleware engineering strategy — with a focus on scalable messaging, caching, and distributed system solutions. The Software Engineer III – Middleware Platform will be deeply engaged with cloud technologies, site reliability practices, and developer self-service tooling across FBG.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain middleware platform services with an emphasis on messaging (Kafka, ActiveMQ) and caching (Redis, Elasticache) technologies.
• Develop self-service developer tooling that simplifies access to middleware infrastructure and improves developer experience.
• Coach application developers on best practices for integrating messaging and caching solutions in distributed environments.
• Enhance observability systems for middleware platforms, driving down incident response and resolution times.
• Create tools that allow developers to focus on value-added activities and product innovation by abstracting middleware complexities.
• Gather feedback from internal stakeholders to ensure that middleware services and tooling meet the evolving needs of developers.
• Evangelize middleware solutions internally, promoting best practices and driving platform adoption across engineering teams.
• Participate in incident management processes ensuring the reliability and availability of middleware services.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Engineering and other departments, providing insights and metrics on platform reliability.
• Provide leadership and technical mentorship within the engineering organization, promoting excellence in middleware architecture and operations.
• Help development teams adhere to engineering principles, guidelines, and platform best practices.
• Stay current on middleware technology trends and incorporate best practices into FBG's engineering strategy.
• Occasionally travel to BetFanatics offices and team events as needed.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building and managing messaging and caching infrastructure at scale.
• 3+ years developing applications within distributed systems environments (back-end preferred).
• Expertise in messaging and caching platforms (Kafka, ActiveMQ, Redis/Elasticache).
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to influence engineering practices.
• Experience balancing platform scalability with developer productivity needs.
• High personal initiative with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
• Strong outcome-driven, data-informed decision-making skills.
• Deep expertise in diagnosing complex system interactions and performing root cause analysis.
• Proficiency with Infrastructure as Code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation).
• Experience with observability, chaos engineering, and incident management systems.
• Ability to integrate third-party systems into a unified development platform.
• Programming proficiency in Python (strongly preferred), Golang, or Java.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a cloud-native environment (AWS, GCP, Azure).
• Experience supporting software compliance workflows.
• Previous experience in globally distributed engineering organizations.

Ready to build the future of sports betting? If you possess some of these skills but not all of them, we still encourage you to apply!

The expected salary range for this role is based on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This role is eligible for the Fanatics Betting and Gaming annual bonus program and an equity award. *Salary range is listed in USD; actual salary will vary based on location. *Salary Range: $128,000 - $242,000 per year (actual salary will be determined in part by a successful candidate’s geographic location). In addition to base salary, bonus, and equity, full-time employees are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, paid time off, and other benefits like GymPass, Pet Insurance, Family Care Benefits, and more. We’ll also give you $700 to set up your home office!  Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize 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. 

Launched in 2021, Fanatics Betting and Gaming is the online and retail sports betting subsidiary of Fanatics, a global digital sports platform. The Fanatics Sportsbook is available to 95% of the addressable online sports bettor market in the U.S. Fanatics Casino is currently available online in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Fanatics Betting and Gaming operates twenty-two retail sports betting locations, including the only sportsbook inside an NFL stadium at Northwest Stadium. Fanatics Betting and Gaming is headquartered in New York with offices in Denver, Leeds and Dublin.