Software Engineer - Backend, Kotlin (Principal/Senior)

Posted: 2 days
Programming
Full-Time
Lead / Principal
$167.4K - $245.6K + Equity
Remote United States / Canada (EST - PST)
At Gardens Interactive, we believe that immersive gameplay is the heartbeat of every great game. We connect people through the universal power of play. Our games foster meaningful relationships, celebrate artistry, and support vibrant, inclusive communities. We’re committed to building experiences that bring people together, and we believe that technology is key to making this vision a reality.

As a Software Engineer focused on the backend of multiplayer experiences, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping and elevating the technical excellence behind our games. Working closely with designers and gameplay engineers, you’ll help build and scale the systems that power our social and multiplayer experiences. You’ll have a hand in crafting how players interact with each other and our games, ensuring our platform is scalable, reliable, and built for fun!

At Gardens, we value collaboration, creativity, and curiosity. Our engineers thrive in design-centric environments, are comfortable tackling ambiguous problems, and are always eager to learn. If you’re excited by the challenge of creating sustainable, scalable solutions and bringing communities together through games, we’d love to hear from you.


Gardens



A Day In The Life:
  • Work with designers to translate social gameplay experiences into backend solutions.
  • Partner with Unreal engineers to create end-to-end implementations of these player experiences.
  • Work across engineering to ensure our game and platform remain scalable in a multi-region, multi-platform deployment.
  • Integrate or build solutions for our publishing needs
Technical Toolbelt:
  • Distributed microservices development using Kotlin or Java
  • AWS, Containerization, Git, CI/CD
  • Experience in a AAA or AA game studio
  • Ability to navigate ambiguity and provide optimal solutions for complex problems.
  • Good communication and ability to work with stakeholders independently.
Bonus Points:
  • Experience in a game using Unreal 4 or 5
  • Experience working on live services and multiplayer games
  • Experience programming in C++
  • Familiarity with using IaC deployment approaches
Who We Are
We're a forward-thinking, distributed game studio founded by the creators behind titles like Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Blaseball, Dustforce, Ashen, Guild Wars 2, Firewatch, and more! Our name reflects our mission: to cultivate rich, immersive worlds that foster meaningful connections and lasting friendships. We believe in creating lush, living environments where players can engage in surprising multiplayer experiences and grow together with the support of their communities.

Our commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and transparency drives us to create a work environment where every voice is heard and valued. As a fully-distributed studio, we support our team in living and working from wherever they choose, offering competitive pay, stock options, flexible non-accrual paid time off, 35-hour work weeks, and comprehensive benefits, including full medical, vision, dental, and 401k contributions.

We're excited to be developing our flagship project — a shared 3D fantasy adventure inspired by our favorite online gaming memories. This is the world we’re passionate about building and the world we want to experience every day.

Gardens Offers:
  • Competitive Salaries and Pay Transparency
  • Stock Options
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage (100% for Individuals and 90% for Dependents)
  • Life Insurance, Short Term & Long Term Disability, and other numerous benefits
  • 401k contributions (USA) / RRSP plan + DPSP contributions (Canada)
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Biannual Company Retreats
  • Continued Education Allowance
  • A fully-distributed studio. We aspire to support employees living and working where they want.
Benefits and perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Gardens and the country in which you work.

Encouragement:
We believe that diverse perspectives make our team stronger and our games better. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. Studies show that marginalized groups, especially those of women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every criterion. At Gardens Interactive, we value potential, passion, and a willingness to grow. We hope you will join us in shaping the future of gaming.

Note:
Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that people have been contacted by scammers impersonating Gardens Interactive. Said individuals are offering opportunities with the intent of stealing financial information. Please be advised that our team's correspondence regarding positions (including tests, offers, and interviews) is associated with a gardens.dev email. Don't hesitate to reach out via direct message on LinkedIn or careers@gardens.dev . We will never ask you for your financial information.


Location
United States - Remote (EST - PST), Canada - Remote (EST - PST)

Compensation
  • Level 4: $167.4K – $204.7K • Offers Equity
  • Level 5: $200.9K – $245.6K • Offers Equity
Gardens Interactive Pay Transparency Policy

At Gardens Interactive, we are dedicated to creating an environment rooted in fairness, growth, and collaboration. Our pay transparency policy embodies our commitment to open communication and equitable compensation.

We’ve designed our Skill and Level Matrix to align compensation with individual accomplishments and potential rather than relying solely on tenure. This approach fosters a culture of continuous development, ensuring that every team member has a clear path to their future at Gardens Interactive.

This approach allows us to recognize and reward the unique contributions that drive our studio forward. We are committed to having open and honest conversations with each team member about how our system works, how it influences their compensation, and how they can continue to grow within the studio.

This approach not only reinforces our dedication to inclusivity and equity but also ensures that Gardens Interactive is a place where everyone’s contributions are valued, and where growth opportunities are accessible to all.



About Gardens

We Are Gardens

A remote games studio from developers of games like Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch , Blaseball , Dustforce , Guild Wars 2 , Firewatch, and more. We’re named after the games we grow together — lush, living worlds that bring players together to cultivate lasting friendships. Worlds that offer surprising multiplayer experiences and flourish with the help of their communities.

Our upcoming flagship game is a shared fantasy adventure inspired by some of our favorite memories playing online games, particularly moments shared with strangers. Players will find themselves crossing paths in a shapeshifting, unpredictable wilderness filled with mystery and magic, featuring a timeless visual direction and tactile multiplayer play.
It’s the world we want to adventure in every day.

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Gardens

Company Website

United States of America

Jobs Posted: 2

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Gardens

Company Website

United States of America

Jobs Posted: 2

Apply To Job