# Senior Backend Engineer, US Exchange

**Company:** [Polymarket](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/polymarket)
**Location:** New York, NY
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Experience:** 4+ years
**Skills:** C++, Go, Rust, Java, Kafka, Pulsar, RabbitMQ, gRPC, Protobuf, Linux, AWS, GCP
**Posted:** 2026-02-17

> Build and scale high-performance, low-latency backend systems for Polymarket's core exchange infrastructure using C/C++ or similar systems languages. Requires 4-7+ years experience in distributed systems, concurrency, and production debugging.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Build the exchange backend: Design and implement scalable, low-latency backend services that power Polymarket’s exchange, using **C/C++** or other performance-oriented systems languages (**Go**, **Rust**, **Java**).
- Optimize for performance & scale: Profile, tune, and debug systems with a focus on latency, throughput, memory usage, and correctness in production.
- Design distributed systems: Build and operate robust APIs, data pipelines, and event-driven systems using messaging and streaming platforms (**Kafka**, **Pulsar**, **RabbitMQ**).
- Own reliability & operations: Reinforce security, availability, performance, and scalability across backend systems, and participate in diagnosing and resolving production issues.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Work closely with engineers across product, infra, and data to ensure tight integration between the exchange and the broader platform.
- Contribute to code quality: Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and architectural decisions to maintain a high bar for engineering excellence.

## Requirements
- 4–7+ years of professional backend development experience, with strong proficiency in **C/C++** (preferred) or another systems language (**Go**, **Rust**, **Java**).
- Solid understanding of algorithms, data structures, concurrency, memory management, and experience building low-latency, high-throughput systems.
- Comfortable working on complex systems end-to-end, debugging production issues on **Linux**, and taking responsibility for correctness and performance.

## Nice-to-haves
- Experience in trading systems, HFT, gaming, telecom, or other latency-sensitive domains.
- Production experience with **Kafka**, **Pulsar**, or similar streaming platforms at scale.
- Familiarity with **gRPC**, **Protobuf**, **ZeroMQ**, or similar technologies.
- Experience deploying systems in cloud environments (**AWS/GCP**) and using containers.

## Benefits
- Competitive salary & equity.
- Unlimited PTO, Health, Vision, & Dental coverage.
- 401k match.
- Hardware setup — new MacBook Pro, big display, & accessories.

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**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/cc129f36-5e06-4f9a-95ad-7a9b1e6fd1cc
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/cc129f36-5e06-4f9a-95ad-7a9b1e6fd1cc