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Lead Developer (Backend)
- Publicis Groupe (Chicago, IL)
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Overview
Epsilon is building the next-generation Retail Media Network (RMN) platform to power onsite advertising at scale; leveraging services from our industry-leading ad tech platform that already delivers billions of offsite ads across the open web. Our vision is a unified platform that seamlessly supports both onsite and offsite advertising with low latency, high throughput, and high reliability.
We’re looking for a Lead Software Engineer to join our Core Platform Engineering team–a hands-on technical leader who can drive major initiatives end to end. You’ll design and build scalable backend services, guide technical decisions across teams, and mentor engineers to ensure we deliver resilient, high-performance systems.
Ideal for those who thrive in accountable settings, blending planning with technical tasks, and enjoy crafting global systems.
How You’ll Make an Impact
+ Lead the design and development of high-performance, distributed backend services for ad delivery and optimization.
+ Collaborate with product, platform, and operations teams to integrate new capabilities into the platform.
+ Improve system performance, fix production issues, and eradicate bottlenecks across the stack.
+ Partner with DevOps/SRE to evolve CI/CD, monitoring, and performance tuning.
+ Contribute to frontend integrations (SPAs, dashboards, tools) when needed, ensuring seamless workflows for internal and external users.
+ Mentor and guide other engineers through design reviews, code reviews, and technical planning.
What You’ll Achieve
+ Provide critically important services that support a unified onsite/offsite ad serving platform.
+ Lead architectural improvements that reduce latency and increase throughput at scale.
+ Champion engineering best practices around design, testing, automation, and observability.
+ Influence the technical roadmap to ensure alignment between platform capabilities and business goals.
Who You Are
+ Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field (or equivalent experience).
+ 8+ years of software engineering experience, with a strong focus on backend and distributed systems.
+ Deep expertise in Java and modern backend frameworks (Spring Boot or similar).
+ Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker and Kubernetes).
+ Hands-on experience with streaming platforms (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis, Pulsar).
+ Strong knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases, including schema design and query optimization.
+ Solid understanding of system architecture, data flow design, and API performance optimization.
+ Self-starter with demonstrated ability to lead initiatives with minimal oversight.
Nice to Have
+ Experience in ad tech, especially in ad serving, RTB, or programmatic systems.
+ Familiarity with cloud-native environments (AWS, Kubernetes, Docker).
+ Experience with frontend technologies (TypeScript, React, or Angular).
+ Experience working with data engineering and analytics pipelines.
Why Join Us
You’ll be at the forefront of building a next-generation advertising platform that combines the speed and sophistication of programmatic ad serving with the personalization and commerce power of retail media. Your work will directly shape how millions of users experience advertising across top retailers and brands.
Base Salary: $98,000 - $182,000
Actual compensation within the range will be dependent upon, but not limited to the individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, location and application employment laws. The salary pay range is subject to change and may be modified at any time.
Additional Information
When You Join Us, We’ll Create Something EPIC Together
Epsilon is a global data, technology and services company that powers the marketing and advertising ecosystem. For decades, we’ve provided marketers from the world’s leading brands the data, technology and services they need to engage consumers with 1 View, 1 Vision and 1 Voice. 1 View of their universe of potential buyers. 1 Vision for engaging each individual. And 1 Voice to harmonize engagement across paid, owned and earned channels.
Epsilon’s comprehensive portfolio of capabilities across our suite of digital media, messaging and loyalty solutions bridge the divide between marketing and advertising technology. We process 400+ billion consumer actions each day using advanced AI and hold many patents of proprietary technology, including real-time modeling languages and consumer privacy advancements. Thanks to the work of every employee, Epsilon has been consistently recognized as industry-leading by Forrester, Adweek and the MRC. Epsilon is a global company with more than 9,000 employees around the world.
Epsilon has a core set of 5 values that define our culture and guide us to create value for our clients, our people and consumers. We are seeking candidates that align with our company values, demonstrate them and make them meaningful in their day-to-day work:
+ **Act with integrity.** We are transparent and have the courage to do the right thing.
+ **Work together to win together.** We believe collaboration is the catalyst that unlocks our full potential.
+ **Innovate with purpose.** We shape the market with big ideas that drive big outcomes.
+ **Respect all voices.** We embrace differences and foster a culture of connection and belonging.
+ **Empower with accountability.** We trust each other to own and deliver on common goals.
Because You Matter
As an Epsilon employee, you deserve perks and benefits that put you, your family and your finances first. Our benefits encompass a wide range of offerings, including but not limited to the following:
+ **Time to Recharge:** Flexible time off (FTO), 15 paid holidays
+ **Time to Recover:** Paid sick time
+ **Family Well-Being:** Parental/new child leave, childcare & elder care assistance, adoption assistance
+ **Extra Perks:** Comprehensive health coverage, 401(k), tuition assistance, commuter benefits, professional development, employee recognition, charitable donation matching, health coaching and counseling
Epsilon benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms.
**Epsilon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.** Epsilon’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on actual or perceived race, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy), marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (including transgender status), veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Epsilon also prohibits harassment of applicants and employees based on any of these protected categories. Epsilon will provide accommodations to applicants needing accommodations to complete the application process. Please reach out to [email protected] to request an accommodation.
**For San Francisco Bay and Los Angeles Areas:** Epsilon will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance and San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Applicants with criminal histories are welcome to apply.
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