Distributed Systems Engineer (L4) – Big Data Platform & Cloud Infrastructure Specialist (Remote, US)

Build the Future of Global Entertainment Data Infrastructure at arenaflex

Are you a passionate distributed systems engineer ready to architect platforms that process petabytes of data for one of the world’s most influential entertainment companies? arenaflex is searching for a talented Distributed Systems Engineer (L4) to join our elite Data Platform team. This is a fully remote opportunity open to candidates across the United States, offering a competitive hourly rate of $28/hour and the chance to work on technology that impacts hundreds of millions of members worldwide.

At arenaflex, we believe entertainment is more than just content — it’s an experience powered by data. Our streaming platform delivers content in over 30 languages to members in 190 countries, serving more than 220 million paid subscribers and expanding into bold new frontiers including gaming and interactive entertainment. The work you do here will directly influence how the world discovers, consumes, and enjoys digital entertainment for generations to come.

We are looking for engineers who thrive on solving complex technical problems, who love working at scale, and who want to contribute to a culture that values ownership, collaboration, and continuous learning. If you’re excited by distributed computing, big data ecosystems, and open-source contributions, this role is designed for you.

Why Join arenaflex?

arenaflex is more than a workplace — it’s a community of innovators, builders, and dreamers. Our Data Platform team is the backbone of our global operations, empowering every business function with the data they need to make smart, timely, and impactful decisions. From the foundational storage layer to real-time query engines, we build the systems that make data accessible, reliable, and secure for the entire organization.

Here’s what makes arenaflex a unique place to grow your career:

• Remote-First Culture: We value what you can do, not where you sit. arenaflex is open to remote candidates across the U.S., giving you the flexibility to do your best work from your preferred environment.
• Mission-Driven Work: Every line of code you write supports the global entertainment experience of millions. Your contributions will help arenaflex reach our ambitious goal of 500 million members worldwide.
• Engineering Excellence: We are committed to a culture of feedback, engineering rigor, and continuous improvement. Our teams are small, focused, and own their systems end-to-end.
• Open Source Leadership: arenaflex is a major contributor to the open-source community. You’ll have opportunities to share your work, collaborate with global developers, and help shape the future of big data technology.
• Diversity and Inclusion: We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. arenaflex is committed to building an inclusive team where every voice is heard and valued.

About the Role: Distributed Systems Engineer (L4)

As a Distributed Systems Engineer at arenaflex, you will be part of one of our specialized Data Platform teams. Each team owns a critical piece of our data infrastructure, and we are hiring across multiple focus areas. You’ll work on systems that handle petabytes of data, sub-millisecond query latencies, and the orchestration of complex ETL and machine learning workflows.

Key Focus Areas

Database Access Platform

Join the team that builds and operates a scalable query gateway enabling data abstractions with sub-millisecond latencies. This group empowers arenaflex microservices to store, consume, and manage their data more efficiently. If you’re passionate about distributed database technology and want to work on business-critical systems, this is the team for you.

Data Platform Foundation

This team serves as a platform for our internal data platforms, providing shared infrastructure and tooling that accelerates innovation across the company. Many of our systems are written in Python, making this an excellent fit for engineers who enjoy working in multiple languages and want to build high-impact infrastructure, control systems, and deployment pipelines.

Big Data Compute

Be responsible for delivering the cloud-native platform that powers distributed data processing at arenaflex. This team supports Spark for ETL operations at petabyte scale, enables data warehouse access through Spark and Velox/TrinoDB, and provides sub-second query latency using Druid. You’ll tackle challenging problems in distributed data processing, performance optimization, and open-source contributions.

Big Data Orchestration

Help design, organize, and execute big data jobs and workflows in a self-service manner. These platforms run all ETL and machine learning workloads across arenaflex’s massive data infrastructure. We are moving toward event-driven and intelligent orchestration that requires minimal user intervention — an exciting frontier in distributed systems engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate scalable, fault-tolerant distributed systems that power arenaflex’s global data platform.
• Develop high-performance query engines, data access layers, and orchestration systems capable of handling petabyte-scale workloads.
• Architect and implement robust, highly available infrastructure with a focus on reliability, scalability, and observability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product managers, technical program managers, and software engineers to deliver impactful solutions.
• Contribute to open-source projects and represent arenaflex in the broader engineering community.
• Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and architectural decisions to maintain engineering excellence.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex distributed systems issues in production environments.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of learning and feedback.
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies in big data, distributed computing, and cloud infrastructure.

Essential Qualifications

• Experience: 2+ years of professional experience building large-scale distributed systems, features, or applications.
• Web Services: Proficiency in designing and developing RESTful web services.
• Distributed Systems: Hands-on experience building and operating scalable, fault-tolerant distributed infrastructure.
• Programming Skills: Strong expertise in Java or another object-oriented programming language.
• Multithreading: Comfort and confidence working with multithreaded and concurrent systems.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with big data technologies such as Spark, Presto/Trino, Druid, Iceberg, or distributed database systems.
• Familiarity with cloud-native platforms and infrastructure-as-code tools.
• Experience contributing to open-source projects or active participation in the developer community.
• Strong understanding of ETL pipelines, data warehousing, and machine learning workflows.
• Experience with Python and polyglot programming environments.
• Knowledge of observability, monitoring, and performance tuning in distributed systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Skills and Competencies for Success

• Systems Thinking: Ability to understand complex interactions within distributed systems and design for resilience and scale.
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills with a knack for diagnosing and solving hard technical problems.
• Collaboration: Excellent communication skills and a team-first mindset.
• Ownership: A sense of responsibility for the systems you build and a drive to continuously improve them.
• Adaptability: Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to pivot as requirements evolve.
• Continuous Learning: A growth mindset and a passion for staying at the forefront of technology.

Career Growth and Learning Opportunities

At arenaflex, your career trajectory is limited only by your ambition. We invest heavily in professional development, offering:

• Mentorship from senior engineers and leaders in the distributed systems space.
• Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and technical summits.
• Access to cutting-edge tools, technologies, and training resources.
• Clear pathways for advancement into senior engineering, technical leadership, and architecture roles.
• A culture that encourages experimentation, innovation, and ownership of high-impact projects.

Work Environment and Company Culture

arenaflex fosters a culture built on freedom, responsibility, and impact. We are a remote-first organization that trusts our engineers to deliver exceptional results from anywhere in the U.S. Our teams are small, focused, and empowered to make decisions. We celebrate curiosity, value diverse perspectives, and believe that the best ideas come from collaborative environments where everyone feels safe to share, challenge, and grow.

Our engineers enjoy a high degree of autonomy, access to leadership, and the satisfaction of seeing their work come to life in products used by millions of people around the world.

Compensation and Benefits

arenaflex is proud to offer a competitive compensation package, including:

• Hourly Rate: $28/hour with consistent full-time hours (8 hours per day).
• Remote Flexibility: Work from anywhere in the U.S. with flexible scheduling.
• Health and Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday policies.
• Professional Development: Budget for conferences, certifications, and learning resources.
• Equipment Stipend: Support for your home office setup.
• Parental Leave: Paid leave for new parents.
• Wellness Programs: Access to mental health resources, fitness reimbursements, and more.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to take your distributed systems engineering career to the next level and want to work on technology that powers global entertainment, we want to hear from you. Joining arenaflex means becoming part of a team that’s redefining what’s possible in big data, streaming, and digital experiences.

Bring your skills, your curiosity, and your passion for building world-class systems. Together, we’ll shape the future of entertainment technology.

Apply today and become a key player in arenaflex’s journey to connect the world through data-driven entertainment.