Principal Engineer/Deputy CTO

A fast-growing gaming company, founded in 2017, is seeking a Principal Engineer / Deputy CTO to lead technical delivery and innovation across its Remote Gaming Server and platform. The company serves regulated markets in the USA, Canada, and the UK, with a team of senior developers primarily based in North America.

We are looking for a highly hands-on, delivery-focused technical leader who takes full responsibility for their decisions and drives execution to completion. This role is critical in helping the company transition from a startup to a more mature, structured technology organization, setting the foundation for scalable growth.

This is the second-highest technical role in the company, acting as CTO in their absence. You’ll drive architecture, backend development, infrastructure, and operations—taking full ownership from design through delivery. This is a long-term leadership opportunity in a product-driven environment (non-cloud, Python-based).

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead backend and infrastructure design, development, and deployment
• Drive end-to-end technical delivery and system reliability
• Act as a hands-on technical lead, mentor, and decision-maker
• Set best practices in security, CI/CD, and operational excellence
• Guide the evolution of technology processes and standards
• Act as CTO during their absence

Tech Stack:

Python, C, HTML, JavaScript, QT

Ubuntu (bare metal), Docker, Postgres, MongoDB, Chef, Ansible, GitLab CI/CD, Zabbix

What We’re Looking For:

• 10+ years in backend, system engineering, or infrastructure roles
• Deep expertise with Python and Linux server environments (non-cloud)
• Proven experience in scaling systems for regulated industries
• Strong skills in Docker, automation, CI/CD, and system monitoring
• Experience in both early-stage startups and mature organizations
• Excellent English (B2+)

Nice to Have:

• Gaming industry background
• Degree in Computer Science or related field
• Open-source or game-related project contributions