Game Server Team Lead (Platform)

Game Server Team Lead (Platform) Job Title: Game Server Team Lead (Platform) Department: Technology Location: SOF / BUD - Hybrid Employment type: Full-time Reports to: Head of Game Development Why Playnetic? Playnetic is an innovative and fast-growing player in the iGaming industry. We create cutting-edge casino games and technology that entertain millions of players worldwide, combining creativity, quality, and innovation at every step. Our gaming content is built around our core values: quality gaming, dedicated customer service, and reliable delivery to our partners. With a global mindset, we’re committed to building engaging products and an inspiring workplace where teams can thrive. Job Summary: Responsible for leading the Game Server development team and ensuring the successful delivery of casino game backend features through effective technical leadership, people management, and continuous improvement. The Team Lead is accountable for team performance, engineering processes, delivery predictability, and collaboration across departments. They work closely with Product, and other engineering teams to remove bottlenecks, improve development practices, challenge assumptions, and ensure the team consistently delivers high-quality software. This role combines leadership, technical guidance, stakeholder management, and a strong focus on operational excellence. Key Responsibilities: Team Leadership Lead, mentor, and develop the Game Server team. Conduct regular 1:1 meetings, provide continuous feedback, and perform performance reviews. Support career development through coaching and technical guidance. Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement. Ensure new team members are effectively onboarded. Delivery & Planning Own the team's delivery process from planning through production release. Work closely with Game Producers to plan work, manage priorities, and improve delivery predictability. Challenge estimates, assumptions, and scope where appropriate to improve planning accuracy and reduce delivery risk. Remove blockers that impact the team's ability to deliver. Monitor team capacity, delivery metrics, and project progress. Process Improvement Take ownership of improving engineering processes and team effectiveness. Identify bottlenecks and implement measurable improvements to increase delivery speed, quality, and predictability. Define and track meaningful engineering metrics to evaluate progress. Drive continuous improvement initiatives across development workflows. Encourage experimentation and adoption of better engineering practices. Technical Leadership Provide technical guidance and architectural input for Game Server development. Support developers in solving complex technical problems. Maintain high standards for code quality, maintainability, and software design. Participate in technical discussions and reviews where needed. Cross-functional Collaboration Act as the primary engineering representative for the Game Server team. Collaborate with QA, DevOps, Product, Platform, and other engineering teams to improve end-to-end development efficiency. Build strong relationships across departments to resolve dependencies and align on shared goals. Drive initiatives that improve collaboration and reduce friction between teams. Required Skills & Experience Experience developing backend systems in Java. Experience developing casino slot games, with a strong understanding of the slot game development lifecycle and regulatory considerations. Strong understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and backend development best practices. Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments. Ability to challenge technical solutions, estimates, and delivery plans in a constructive manner. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience collaborating across engineering teams. What we offer: Real Impact & Greenfield Projects: We are small enough that your voice is heard, and your contributions directly influence how we build. You’ll have the unique opportunity to work on greenfield projects, giving you the space to truly shine, build from scratch, and leave your architectural mark. Autonomy & Modern Tech: We believe in giving our developers the creative autonomy to execute and innovate using a cutting-edge, modern tech stack. There is absolutely no micromanagement here—we trust your expertise and give you the ownership to solve complex problems your way. Supportive Leadership & Flat Hierarchy: Work within a collaborative, professional environment with open communication and a flat hierarchy. Our teams are led by accessible, engineering-focused managers who prioritize mentorship, psychological safety, and removing blockers so you can focus on building great software. Fast-Track Growth : As we scale, your career scales with us. Whether you are stepping into leadership or deepening your technical mastery, we actively support your professional development, training, and career progression. Competitive Compensation: We offer highly competitive salary packages and performance-based rewards designed to attract, motivate, and retain top engineering talent. Balance & Culture: Beyond the code, we provide comprehensive paid vacation and sick leave, along with regular team events and company-sponsored activities to keep our teams connected, creative, and refreshed. \ Locations Hungary, Bulgaria Remote status Hybrid