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Professional Fantasy Sports Developer Jobs in California

As one of the fastest-growing platforms in the fantasy sports and real-money gaming space, we're ... About the Role We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer - Backend to help us scale the core ...

Software Engineer, Backend

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$140K - $185K/yr

As one of the fastest-growing platforms in the fantasy sports and real-money gaming space, we're ... About the Role We're looking for a Software Engineer - Backend to help us scale the core systems ...

As one of the fastest-growing platforms in the fantasy sports and real-money gaming space, we're ... About the Role We're looking for a Staff Software Engineer - Backend to help us scale the core ...

Fastpoint Games is looking for a Engineers for its Professional Services, Backend Services and Game ... and/or Fantasy Sports is a plus Experience with building web-based applications is a plus ...

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Professional Fantasy Sports Developer information

What is a professional fantasy sports developer?

A Professional Fantasy Sports Developer is a software engineer or programmer who specializes in designing, building, and maintaining platforms or apps for fantasy sports. They work on creating user interfaces, implementing game logic, managing real-time data feeds, and ensuring site security and scalability. These developers often collaborate with product managers, designers, and data analysts to deliver engaging and reliable fantasy sports experiences for users. Their work is critical in bringing fantasy sports leagues, contests, and draft games to life across web and mobile platforms.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional fantasy sports developer?

To thrive as a Professional Fantasy Sports Developer, you need strong programming skills (such as JavaScript, Python, or Java), a solid understanding of sports statistics, and a background in software development or computer science. Familiarity with web frameworks, database management systems, and knowledge of third-party sports data APIs are typically required, while certifications in software development can be advantageous. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are important soft skills that help developers design engaging and reliable platforms. These skills ensure the creation of robust, user-friendly fantasy sports applications that deliver real-time experiences and meet both user expectations and industry regulations.

What are some common challenges professional fantasy sports developers face when integrating real-time data feeds into their platforms?

One of the main challenges Professional Fantasy Sports Developers encounter is ensuring the seamless integration of accurate, real-time sports data from third-party providers. These feeds are essential for delivering up-to-date player statistics and game outcomes, but can be prone to latency, API changes, or inconsistencies. Developers must implement robust error handling, data validation, and synchronization mechanisms to maintain a reliable user experience. Additionally, coordinating with operations and customer support teams is crucial to quickly address any data discrepancies and keep users informed.

What is the difference between Professional Fantasy Sports Developer vs Fantasy Sports Software Engineer?

AspectProfessional Fantasy Sports DeveloperFantasy Sports Software Engineer
Required CredentialsRelevant programming skills, experience in fantasy sports platformsComputer science degree, coding proficiency, experience in gaming or sports apps
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with designers, product managers, and sports analystsFocuses on coding, testing, and maintaining fantasy sports software
Employer & Industry UsageFantasy sports companies, gaming platforms, sports mediaTech firms developing sports-related applications, gaming companies
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in fantasy sports developmentTechnical aspects of fantasy sports software creation

The main difference is that a Professional Fantasy Sports Developer focuses on designing and managing fantasy sports platforms, often combining sports knowledge with development skills. In contrast, a Fantasy Sports Software Engineer primarily concentrates on coding, testing, and maintaining the software behind these platforms. Both roles require technical expertise, but their focus areas differ within the industry.

What are the most commonly searched types of Fantasy Sports Developer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Fantasy Sports Developer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Professional Fantasy Sports Developer jobs in California?

For Professional Fantasy Sports Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Professional Fantasy Sports Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Professional Fantasy Sports Developer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Professional Fantasy Sports Developer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Professional Fantasy Sports Developer job openings:

Senior Software Engineer, Backend

Sleeper

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

About Sleeper
Sleeper is on a mission to connect people over sports through games and community. As one of the fastest-growing platforms in the fantasy sports and real-money gaming space, we're redefining how sports fans engage-whether it's through season-long leagues, pick'em contests, or real-time interactions with friends.
Our team is lean, passionate, and product-driven. We obsess over user experience and believe that building delightful, fast, and reliable products is the best way to grow. Backed by some of the most respected investors in Silicon Valley, including Andreessen Horowitz and General Catalyst, we're building the future of sports engagement.
About the Role
We're looking for a Senior Software Engineer - Backend to help us scale the core systems behind our fantasy sports and DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports) offerings. In this role, you'll build and own critical backend services, and collaborate with fellow engineers as we scale to support tens of millions of passionate sports fans.
You'll collaborate cross-functionally to bring innovative features to life-from real-time contest engines and game logic to personalized content and secure, seamless payments. You'll own significant parts of the backend stack and help raise the bar for performance, scalability, and reliability at Sleeper.
What You'll Do
  • Design and build core backend systems that power Sleeper's games and real-time user experiences-fantasy contests, Sleeper Picks, user profiles, leaderboards, and more.
  • Build scalable, distributed systems capable of handling millions of concurrent users with low latency and high availability.
  • Own backend initiatives from concept to deployment, ensuring clean interfaces, well-documented services, and resilient infrastructure.
  • Optimize system performance and proactively address bottlenecks through monitoring, profiling, and capacity planning.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with product, design, and frontend teams to deliver features that users love.
  • Contribute thoughtful code reviews and help strengthen backend engineering best practices and standards.

Who You Are
  • 5+ years of backend software engineering experience.
  • Proven ability to build and scale distributed systems that serve millions of users in real-time or gaming environments.
  • Strong proficiency in one or more backend languages (e.g., Go, Python, Node.js, Java), and an understanding of trade-offs between them.
  • Solid knowledge of databases (both SQL and NoSQL), caching strategies, and message queues (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ, Pub/Sub).
  • Comfortable designing and maintaining RESTful and/or graphql APIs, data models, and internal tooling.
  • Cloud experience (AWS, GCP, or similar), with familiarity with containers (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes a plus).
  • Strong product mindset-you care about the why, not just the how, and you build with users in mind.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
  • Bonus: Proficiency in Elixir
  • Bonus: Passion for sports, gaming, or building multiplayer or real-time systems.

Why Join Sleeper?
  • Massive Impact - Your work will touch millions of users and help shape the next generation of sports entertainment.
  • High Ownership - We trust our engineers to make high-leverage decisions and drive meaningful outcomes.
  • Startup Agility - Move fast, ship often, and see your work in the hands of users quickly.
  • Culture-First Team - We're a team of builders, thinkers, and sports lovers who value humility, collaboration, and having fun along the way.

What We Offer
  • Competitive salary ($170,000-$220,000) /year not inclusive of stock options and benefits)
  • Equity
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Generous PTO and flexible remote work policy
  • Opportunities for fast career growth in a high-impact role
  • A small, focused team where your contributions truly matter