Sr. Software Engineer, Backend- Rotten Tomatoes

Company Description

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

Job Description

The Opportunity

As a Senior Software Engineer, Back End, you will play a critical role in building and scaling the systems that power Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, two of Versant’s flagship direct-to-consumer platforms. You’ll develop services that support high-traffic, consumer-facing experiences—from ticketing and commerce to content discovery and movie insights used by millions of fans.

You’ll partner closely with engineers, product managers, and cross-functional teams to deliver reliable, high-performing backend systems. This role operates in a fast-paced, Agile environment where strong technical judgment, collaboration, and ownership are essential.

You’ll also contribute to architectural decisions, help evolve our backend ecosystem, and champion engineering best practices across services that must scale efficiently and perform under demand.

Why This Role Matters:
Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes are central to how audiences discover, evaluate, and engage with entertainment. Your work will directly impact the performance, scalability, and reliability of these platforms—enabling seamless user experiences and supporting business growth across two of our most visible digital brands.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services and APIs supporting high-traffic consumer platforms
• Contribute to system architecture and provide technical guidance in areas of expertise
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product and Quality teams to deliver high-quality, user-focused solutions
• Participate in code reviews, Agile ceremonies, and planning to ensure engineering excellence and team alignment
• Identify opportunities to improve system performance, scalability, and reliability across services
• Independently solve complex technical challenges while contributing to team success

Qualifications

What You Bring

• 5+ years of experience in backend or full-stack software development
• Strong foundation in software engineering principles, design patterns, and best practices
• Experience building RESTful APIs and working with microservices or service-oriented architectures
• Proficiency in one or more languages such as JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js), Java, or Python
• Experience with data stores including relational databases, document databases, Redis, or Elasticsearch
• Familiarity with version control (e.g., Git), CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, infrastructure, and security principles

Bonus Points:

• Experience building consumer-facing applications at scale
• Experience in Agile/Scrum environments
• Familiarity with monitoring, deployment, and release tools
• Experience using AI for personal or professional applications

How We Do It at Versant:

• Trust & Integrity: You take ownership of system quality, writing reliable, maintainable, and secure code
• Teamwork: You collaborate effectively across engineering, product, and cross-functional teams
• Transparency: You communicate clearly around technical decisions, tradeoffs, and progress
• Agility: You adapt quickly to changing priorities and embrace new technologies and approaches
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: You proactively identify improvements, solve problems, and drive innovation

Why You’ll Love It Here

• Opportunity to build and scale platforms used by millions of entertainment fans
• Work on high-visibility products including Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes
• Collaborative, inclusive team environment that values diverse