Tech Lead, Java

About Block Labs

Block Labs is a premier technology studio operating at the bleeding edge of Web3, Artificial Intelligence, and iGaming. We don't just ship features; we engineer high-scale, production-grade platforms that power the next generation of digital products.

We are a collective of senior engineers, product strategists, and builders who refuse to compromise on architecture. Whether we are designing autonomous multi-agent AI systems, building decentralized financial infrastructure, or architecting high-frequency iGaming platforms, our standard is excellence.

We move fast, but we build for the long term. If you are looking to work alongside a team that values deep technical expertise, thoughtful system design, and product ownership, Block Labs is where you belong.

About The Role: Tech Lead, Java

As a Tech Lead, Java, you will own the technical direction, architecture, and delivery quality of a multiplayer tile-based gaming platform. This is a hands-on leadership role, not a people management position.

You are expected to actively code while also setting standards, making architectural decisions, and ensuring the platform is reliable, well documented, and production ready.

You will work primarily in Java using Spring based services, coordinating backend, frontend, and game server work across a small team. You will be the technical reference point for integrations with wallets, authentication, cashier systems, and third-party platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the overall architecture and technical roadmap for the multiplayer tile-based gaming platform.
• Lead the design and implementation of backend services using Java 17+, Spring Boot, and modular architectures.
• Define integration patterns for authentication, wallet, cashier, and settlement flows across platforms.
• Ensure coding standards, testing practices, and code quality across the squad.
• Actively contribute code to core services, integrations, and critical paths.
• Guide game server logic adaptations, including settlement rules, rake logic, and wallet synchronization.
• Review pull requests, mentor engineers, and unblock technical challenges.
• Ensure environments are production ready, including deployment documentation, runbooks, and operational clarity.
• Work closely with Product, QA, Security, and Infrastructure to deliver stable releases.
• Identify technical risks early and drive pragmatic mitigation strategies.

About You

• You have at least 7 years of professional software development experience and are genuinely strong in Java (17+).
• You have built and led real systems with Spring Boot and have hands-on experience owning services in production.
• You understand distributed systems, transactional flows, and real-world failure modes, and can guide others through them.
• You have worked with transactional systems such as payments, wallets, or financial flows and understand their operational constraints.
• You are comfortable designing APIs, communication protocols, and integration boundaries.
• You can read and reason about frontend or client-side code to ensure correct end-to-end behavior.
• You value clarity, simplicity, and reliability over clever or over-engineered abstractions.
• You take ownership naturally, make technical decisions, and do not wait to be told what to do.
• Experience leading or technically owning a multiplayer or tile-based gaming platform would be an advantage.
• Previous experience acting as a Tech Lead or senior technical owner in a small, high-trust squad is a strong plus.

What kind of culture can I expect?

Mature, mission-driven, and low-ego. We value clarity over noise, outcomes over theatrics, and pace without chaos. If you’re one of the smartest minds in your craft and want to build with other experts, you’ll feel at home here.

Key skills/competency

• Java 17+
• Spring Boot
• Distributed Systems
• Gaming Platform Architecture
• Technical Leadership
• System Design
• API Design
• Transactional Systems
• Code Quality
• Mentorship