Java Backend Engineer

Are you an experienced Senior Java Backend Engineer with strong AWS expertise & infrastructure‑as‑code skills?

This is a contract opportunity to join a game development team operating large‑scale backend services on AWS. You’ll play a key role in optimising infrastructure, improving service efficiency and contributing directly to backend systems. This role is ideal for someone who combines DevOps excellence with hands‑on engineering capability and a strong focus on performance and cost optimisation.

About the role

You will be responsible for operating, maintaining and optimising cloud‑based backend services. The role goes beyond traditional infrastructure management, requiring the ability to work at the application layer to improve efficiency, scalability and cost performance. You will collaborate closely with game teams to ensure backend systems are reliable, observable and performant at scale.

What you’ll do

• Operate and optimise AWS‑based backend services supporting live applications
• Design and maintain infrastructure using infrastructure‑as‑code tools such as Terraform
• Monitor systems, implement observability practices and manage alerting pipelines
• Analyse performance and identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency
• Work with backend services in Java, reading, modifying and optimising application code where needed
• Support networking, security and access management across cloud environments
• Automate workflows and maintain reliable deployment and operational processes
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure stable and scalable backend systems

What we’re looking for

Experience

• Proven experience as a Senior SRE, DevOps Engineer or similar role
• Experience operating large‑scale cloud services in production environments
• Strong hands‑on experience with AWS services such as EC2, ECS, DynamoDB, ElastiCache and IAM
• Experience working with infrastructure‑as‑code tools such as Terraform
• Experience working with backend systems and services, ideally in Java

Skills

• Strong understanding of cloud architecture, networking and cost optimisation
• Experience with monitoring, observability and alerting systems
• Ability to analyse and optimise system performance and resource usage
• Proficiency with Linux systems and scripting
• Strong collaboration and communication across engineering teams
• Ability to work both on infrastructure and application layers

Nice to have

• Experience in game development or live service environments
• Familiarity with cost optimisation strategies such as reserved and spot instances
• Experience improving backend service efficiency through code changes

Working style / behaviours

• Performance‑focused with a strong optimisation mindset
• Proactive and able to identify inefficiencies independently
• Comfortable working across infrastructure and application layers
• Collaborative and able to support cross‑functional teams
• Adaptable to hybrid working environments

Why join

• Opportunity to work on large‑scale, high‑traffic backend systems
• High‑impact role improving performance and cost efficiency
• Hybrid work setup with strong team collaboration
• Exposure to modern cloud infrastructure and engineering practices
• Long‑term contract with potential for extension

Day rate

• €350 - €650 EUR per day

If you’re a versatile DevOps and backend engineer who thrives in a performance‑driven, collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now, or email Alfie Brear - aab@skillsearch.com

Years of experience and salary levels are shown purely as a guide. We will only consider applications from candidates that can demonstrate the skills or experience required for the role.

Please be aware that while we would love to respond to every application we receive, due to high numbers we cannot guarantee this. We do however appreciate any time you invest into the application and will make sure to get in touch should anything in future more closely fit your skillset.