Job Description

At DraftKings, AI is becoming an integral part of both our present and future, powering how work gets done today, guiding smarter decisions, and sparking bold ideas. It's transforming how we enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and unlock new possibilities. Our teams are energized by innovation and readily embrace emerging technology. We're not waiting for the future to arrive. We're shaping it, one bold step at a time. To those who see AI as a driver of progress, come build the future together.

The Crown Is Yours

As a Lead Software Engineer, you'll guide the development of scalable backend systems that power intelligent, real-time experiences for millions of customers. You'll architect robust solutions, write high performance code, and lead a team committed to technical excellence. You'll play a key role in bringing applied AI into production, integrating data pipelines, model serving frameworks, and intelligent decision systems into our core platform. This is a rare opportunity to lead with impact, shaping technical direction, mentoring talent, and driving innovation at scale.

What You'll Do as Lead Software Engineer

Architect, develop, and maintain scalable and secure backend systems and APIs that deliver intelligent, data-driven functionality across a high-volume, always-on platform Build and own data pipelines and orchestration systems that support training, evaluating, and deploying machine learning models in production Design and implement frameworks for model evaluation, experimentation, and monitoring to ensure reliability and continuous improvement Collaborate with data scientists and ML engineers to bring new model capabilities into production systems efficiently and safely Define and enforce engineering best practices around experimentation, validation, and system observability Take ownership of the full software development lifecycle--from system design and architecture to implementation and operational excellence Lead by example, writing high-quality, well-tested, and performant code while guiding teams through complex technical decisions Partner with Product and Engineering leadership to align technical solutions with long-term business strategy Stay ahead of trends in AI infrastructure, data engineering, and large-scale backend design, and apply them pragmatically in production

What You'll Bring

5+ years of experience in backend software development using languages such as C#, Java, or Python Proven ability to architect, build, and scale distributed systems in cloud environments such as AWS or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Hands-on experience building or supporting systems that integrate machine learning models, data pipelines, or inference services Exposure to data or ML workflows, from building data pipelines to deploying or integrating ML models in production environments Strong foundation in designing APIs, microservices, and event-driven systems Experience implementing robust monitoring, observability, and testing frameworks for high-scale services Demonstrated leadership in mentoring engineers, driving architectural decisions, and maintaining high technical standards A proactive mindset with a passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and delivering high-impact solutions Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or any suitable combination of education, experience, and training

#LI-SM1

Join Our Team

We're a publicly traded (NASDAQ: DKNG) technology company headquartered in Boston. As a regulated gaming company, you may be required to obtain a gaming license issued by the appropriate state agency as a condition of employment. Don't worry, we'll guide you through the process if this is relevant to your role.


We know finding a new job can be intimidating. Don't let imposter syndrome stop you from applying! Even if you don't think you tick off every box in this job description, we'd still love for you to apply or join our Talent Community.


DraftKings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of your gender identity, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, status as a protected veteran, or status as an individual with a disability.