Backend Engineer (Java)

Founded by games industry veterans, Rushdown was created with a simple philosophy in mind: We believe that when talented developers are consistently challenged and given clear ownership of their work, extraordinary things will happen. As a co-dev game studio, we now focus on solving some of the most difficult problems that face multiplayer games — and we bring our experience working on games like PUBG, League of Legends, and Rocket League with us. We truly love the work we do and we want to funnel our passion and expertise into features and games that billions of players will enjoy worldwide. Our Role Rushdown Studios is looking for an experienced Backend Engineer to join us in support of our partner studio! In this role, you'll work to build out game backends and encounter a variety of unique technical challenges. Our ideal candidate is a self-motivated and demonstrated team player with the ability to juggle and jump between different tasks as necessary. Game development experience is preferred due to the nature of this project, but it's not mandatory; we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the requirements listed below! Work Location: Rushdown Studios is based in Saratoga Springs, NY and we have a strong preference for local candidates willing to work from our office on a hybrid basis (i.e., Tuesday-Thursday). However, we also support fully remote work for candidates living across New York State or one of the other states in which we're currently registered to conduct business (e.g., CT, DE, GA, KS, MA, MD, NC, OH, PA, TX, WI). Disclaimer: Please note that this is not a gameplay engineering role.

Responsibilities

• Prototype and build online game features and concepts in the backend for a live-service game.
• Develop new services and author software design documents.
• General support for live features and releases.
• Work closely with our partners and take / provide technical feedback.
• Contribute to a healthy technical culture that encourages engineers to learn and grow.
• Partner with designers to iterate on features and optimize for a smoother player experience.

Requirements

• Three (3) years of professional experience using Java, ideally as a backend developer in the game or software development industries.
• Deep understanding of relational (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MSSQL) databases.
• Familiarity with Java-specific build tooling (e.g., Maven, Gradle).
• Ability to dive into Unreal, Unity, or another game engine to complete a task.
• Willingness to selflessly put player experiences first — before even your own code and ego.
• Ability to comfortably navigate and integrate with one or more cloud service providers (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Proactive approach to communication, particularly when it comes to unblocking yourself and navigating obstacles as part of a team.

Nice-to-Haves

• At least one (1) year of professional experience with Kotlin, Scala, or Groovy.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience with C#/.NET, Golang, or Rust.
• Proficiency with Java Database Connectivity (JDBC).
• Experience with Unreal, Unity, or proprietary game engines.
• Familiarity with game server scaling and orchestration frameworks.
• Experience with PlayFab, Epic Online Services, or other popular backend game services.
• Experience integrating Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo APIs or adhering to their Technical Requirements Checklists (TRCs).

Benefits:

• Compensation: $100,000-150,000/year. Please note that final base pay will ultimately depend upon a combination of factors, including your prior experience, general qualifications, and broader skill set.
• 9 Paid Holidays plus Flexible PTO and Annual Winter Break Closure
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Annual Video Game Budget
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Paid Parental Leave

EEO Statement At Rushdown Studios, we believe that we're made better by each of the different perspectives that our team members bring to the table. We said it above, and we'll say it again: We want to hear from you, even if you don't meet all of the requirements for a specific role. We're also an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race; color; ancestry or national origin; religion; physical or mental disability; age; sex, including pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender, gender identity, or gender expression; medical condition; genetic information; or marital, military, or veteran status. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job