Remote Distributed Systems Engineer – Data Platform (L4) – High‑Impact Data Infrastructure Role at arenaflex – $28/hr

Why arenaflex?

arenaflex is a global leader in entertainment streaming, delivering immersive content to more than 220 million paid subscribers across 190 countries. With a portfolio that now includes movies, series, documentaries, and interactive gaming experiences, arenaflex is redefining how audiences engage with digital entertainment. Our mission is to bring joy to the world, and we do it by building world‑class data platforms that power every recommendation, search, and playback decision. As a remote‑first company, arenaflex embraces talent from every corner of the United States, offering the flexibility to work from home while contributing to a product used by millions every day.

Role Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Distributed Systems Engineer (L4) to join our Data Platform team. In this role you will design, implement, and evolve the core data infrastructure that enables arenaflex’s micro‑services to store, retrieve, and process petabytes of data with sub‑millisecond latency. You will collaborate with product managers, engineers, and technical program managers to solve complex, large‑scale problems that directly impact the user experience for hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and build highly available, fault‑tolerant distributed data services that serve as the backbone for arenaflex’s recommendation, search, and analytics pipelines.
• Develop and maintain a flexible query layer that abstracts underlying storage engines, enabling rapid feature iteration for downstream product teams.
• Partner with open‑source communities to contribute enhancements to projects such as Apache Flink, Presto/Trino, Druid, and Apache Iceberg, ensuring arenaflex remains at the cutting edge of data‑engine technology.
• Drive cross‑functional initiatives, working closely with engineers, product owners, and TPMs to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Implement robust monitoring, alerting, and automated remediation mechanisms to guarantee sub‑second latency and high throughput under peak traffic conditions.
• Mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning, code quality, and shared ownership of the data platform.
• Contribute to arenaflex’s open‑source strategy by publishing internal tools and libraries, and representing the company at industry conferences and meet‑ups.
• Participate in on‑call rotations and incident response, applying root‑cause analysis to improve system reliability and performance.

Essential Qualifications

• 2+ years of hands‑on experience designing and operating large‑scale distributed systems or data platforms.
• Proficiency in Java and at least one additional object‑oriented language (e.g., Scala, Kotlin, or Go).
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain high‑performance, low‑latency services that handle petabyte‑scale data volumes.
• Solid understanding of distributed storage concepts, consistency models, and fault‑tolerance mechanisms.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience with cloud‑native environments (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and container orchestration platforms such as Kubernetes.
• Strong problem‑solving skills, with a track record of translating ambiguous business problems into concrete technical designs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or advanced coursework in distributed systems, data engineering, or a related discipline.
• Hands‑on experience with query engines like Presto/Trino, Druid, or Apache Iceberg.
• Familiarity with stream processing frameworks (e.g., Apache Flink, Kafka Streams) and batch ETL pipelines.
• Contributions to open‑source projects or a public GitHub profile showcasing relevant work.
• Experience building self‑service data platforms that enable product teams to run analytics and machine‑learning workloads without direct engineering assistance.
• Knowledge of modern DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure‑as‑code, and automated testing.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Technical depth: Ability to dive deep into system internals, performance profiling, and low‑level networking.
• Collaboration: Excellent communication skills for partnering with cross‑functional teams and influencing technical direction.
• Ownership: Proactive mindset with a willingness to take end‑to‑end responsibility for features from design through production support.
• Adaptability: Comfort working in a fast‑moving environment where priorities shift based on user impact and business goals.
• Innovation: Passion for exploring emerging technologies and applying them to solve real‑world data challenges.

Career Growth & Learning Opportunities

At arenaflex, your career trajectory is limited only by your ambition. As a Distributed Systems Engineer, you will have access to:

• Mentorship from senior architects who have built some of the world’s most demanding data pipelines.
• Sponsored attendance at industry conferences such as Strata Data, KubeCon, and Open Source Summit.
• Internal “Innovation Days” where you can prototype new ideas, experiment with cutting‑edge technologies, and present results to leadership.
• Rotational programs that allow you to explore adjacent domains like machine learning infrastructure, real‑time analytics, or product engineering.
• A clear promotion path from L4 to senior and staff engineering levels, with transparent performance criteria.

Compensation, Perks & Benefits

arenaflex offers a competitive hourly rate of $28 / hour, complemented by a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance with generous employer contributions.
• 401(k) matching and financial wellness programs.
• Paid time off, parental leave, and flexible holidays.
• Remote‑work stipend for home office setup, high‑speed internet, and ergonomic accessories.
• Access to a global library of technical resources, online courses, and internal learning portals.
• Employee assistance programs, mental‑health resources, and wellness challenges.
• Company‑wide events, virtual happy hours, and an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity.

Work Environment & Culture at arenaflex

arenaflex’s culture is built on three pillars: Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact. We empower engineers to experiment, fail fast, and iterate quickly. Our remote‑first policy means you can work from any U.S. location while staying connected through regular video stand‑ups, virtual coffee chats, and quarterly in‑person meet‑ups. We value transparency; product roadmaps, engineering decisions, and performance metrics are openly shared across the organization. Diversity of thought is encouraged, and every voice is heard, ensuring that the solutions we build reflect the global audience we serve.

How to Apply

If you are excited about shaping the future of data infrastructure at a world‑leading entertainment platform, we want to hear from you. Click the link below to submit your application, attach your résumé, and tell us why you’re the perfect fit for arenaflex’s Distributed Systems Engineering team.

Apply Now – Join arenaflex!

Closing Note

At arenaflex, your work will directly influence the experiences of hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. Join us, and help build the data foundation that powers the next generation of entertainment.