Senior Software Engineer

PlayOn is looking for a versatile and driven Senior Software Engineer to help build and maintain the backend systems and shared services that power our platforms — from streaming to ticketing to site functionality. With deep expertise in backend development and working knowledge of modern frontend libraries, you’ll ensure our systems are reliable, accurate, and scalable.

This role sits at the intersection of backend services, data integrity, and platform reliability. You’ll work across systems and teams, designing and delivering robust APIs and integrations that form the foundation of our products. We’re looking for someone who thrives on delivering reliable, correct systems, while also collaborating across the stack to help teams move faster and smarter.

You’ll play a critical role in shaping the services that power everything our customers experience — and everything our teams build on.

The Outcomes You’ll Deliver

-Improved system reliability and accuracy : Build and maintain backend services with a focus on correctness, data integrity, and long-term stability.

-Seamless cross-platform integration : Design and deliver well-structured APIs that enable smooth communication across systems and applications.

-Enhanced developer velocity : Provide reusable backend patterns, APIs, and integrations that empower other teams to build faster without sacrificing reliability.

In This Role, You Can Expect To

• Own backend systems and APIs. Lead the development of backend services and data integrations that serve as the backbone of our products.
• Drive clarity and correctness. Prioritize accuracy and reliability in system design, ensuring data integrity and long-term maintainability.
• Multiply team impact. Deliver APIs and components that scale across teams, enabling frontend and product pods to move faster.
• Mentor and collaborate. Conduct code reviews, coach junior developers, and foster best practices in coding, testing, and architecture.

To Thrive In This Role, You Have

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with deep backend expertise.
• Proven experience designing and implementing APIs, with gRPC and REST (required) and GraphQL (preferred).
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services using Golang (required), with a focus on performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Deep understanding of Event Driven Architecture with experience in streaming applications such as Kafka (required)
• Strong hands-on experience with PostGres and Document Databases databases (required), ensuring accuracy, integrity, and reliability in data handling.
• Some exposure to frontend development using modern libraries (e.g., React) and the ability to collaborate with frontend engineers (required).
• Solid background in distributed systems, concurrency, and reliable architecture.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms and containerization tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
• Excellent debugging, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• A track record of mentoring and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to adopt and apply the appropriate technologies required for the job (e.g., service frameworks, databases, frontend libraries, or messaging systems).

How You Play

• Ownership over Participation – You take responsibility for achieving holistic outcomes, prioritize key objectives, and adapt quickly when situations require a different approach. You follow through even against the toughest challenges.
• Team over Stars – You are a bridge builder, establishing processes and relationships with teams outside your own. You rally around common goals, find win-win solutions, compromise when necessary, and help others succeed.
• Growth over Comfort – You are driven by a desire to grow and actively seek opportunities to expand your comfort zone, skills, and confidence. You embrace new challenges with curiosity, accepting discomfort and failure as opportunities to learn.
• Fairness over Popularity – You approach decisions with a scientist’s mindset, challenging assumptions and remaining objective. You consider long-term impact over short-term gains, proactively seek others’ perspectives, and manage emotions in decision-making.

Company Overview

PlayOn is a dynamic growth-stage company dedicated to championing the spirit of play in the high school space. Backed by KKR, our family of brands—including GoFan, NFHS Network, and MaxPreps—empowers schools with innovative solutions and exceptional service. Our fan engagement platform is the only one that offers event ticketing, streaming, fundraising, concessions, merchandise sales, and website management in one place. We save administrators time so they can focus on what truly matters: supporting the students, staff, and fans who bring their programs to life.

Trusted by thousands of schools across the country, we're here to help create more instant replays, hold-your-breath moments, last-minute comebacks, and games you want to watch over and over again.

When being there means everything, we make sure you never miss a moment.

Why you’ll love working at PlayOn

Product, potential, and people. We’re a leader in the high school event space, constantly evolving our product to meet the needs of administrators. We focus on solving real challenges, learning quickly, and creating impactful solutions.

This is a growth-stage company, meaning your contributions have real impact. You’ll have opportunities to grow your skills, tackle meaningful problems, and make a difference in the lives of schools and the students and fans they serve.

Our culture is built on accountability, collaboration, growth, and fairness. We don’t just show up—we show up for each other. Everyone wears the same jersey, and we play hard, make the extra pass, and cheer one another on. Losses teach us, challenges motivate us, and persistence drives us forward. We value integrity over shortcuts, choosing to do what’s right even when it’s hard. Together, we strive to be better every day—because we know that’s how we win as a team.

The Benefits We Offer

Multiple medical insurance plans to choose from

Dental, vision life and disability insurance

Employee Emergency Fund

Company equity (stock options)

Open PTO policy

401K plan with company match

Hybrid/flexible work environment

Note: Must be a full-time employee to participate in the company’s employee health benefit plan. Part-time employees and interns are not eligible to participate.