About Arena Club If you’re fascinated by sports cards and memorabilia, your search ends here. Arena Club is pioneering the collectibles domain by introducing the first-ever digital card show. Spearheaded by 5x World Series Champion Derek Jeter and serial entrepreneur Brian Lee, Arena Club has developed a fully digital marketplace. This innovative platform is built on trust, transparency, and fun, featuring grading & authentication, vaulting, and digital pack openings for collectors to build and showcase their collections in a personalized online showroom from anywhere in the world.
About
the Role Join our fast-growing startup as a Staff Backend Engineer and help scale the backbone of our platform and expand into new product categories. We are a dynamic, high-growth company where your work will have a direct impact on product success and scalability. This position is in-office, fostering a fun and collaborative environment, with flexibility for a hybrid arrangement to accommodate personal needs as they arise.
What You'll Do Design, build, and maintain scalable backend applications and APIs using Node.js, TypeScript, and Postgres Leverage AI-powered coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Tabnine) to improve development speed, code quality, and system reliability Architect and optimize systems for high scalability and performance as the business rapidly expands Implement third-party integrations and external APIs to enhance the platform’s capabilities Develop and maintain internal tools that support fulfillment operations, internal workflows, and machine learning initiatives Set backend engineering standards and guide architectural decisions to ensure long-term scalability, performance, and reliability Provide technical leadership and mentorship to other engineers, shaping the culture and velocity of a growing team Collaborate cross-functionally with product, data, and frontend teams to ship high-impact features quickly Ensure backend systems are secure, well-documented, and thoroughly tested
Requirements 8+ years of experience as a professional backend engineer Strong proficiency in Node.js, TypeScript, and Postgres Proven experience building and scaling eCommerce or online marketplace platforms Passion for using the latest AI coding tools and AI-driven best practices to enhance development workflows Deep understanding of cloud platforms (AWS) and containerization/infrastructure-as-code tools (Docker, Terraform) Experience setting engineering best practices, making architectural decisions, and influencing technical direction across teams Ability to move fast and iterate quickly in a startup environment while maintaining high code quality Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate technical trade- offs effectively Tech Stack Languages & Frameworks: TypeScript, Node.js, Python Database: Postgres Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS (S3, SQS, etc.) and/or GCP, Docker, Terraform AI Development Tools: AI-powered coding assistants (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), LLM-based development enhancements The Arena Club Standard Life at Arena Club isn’t for the faint of heart, and that’s by design. We’re building products and experiences the collectibles world has never seen. This is a proving ground. It demands your best every single day, because anything less means you’re falling behind. From day one, you’re in the game. Trusted to deliver, expected to own outcomes, and driven to raise the bar higher than you thought possible. We don’t just execute — we innovate, compete, and win together. If you want routine or predictability, you won’t find it here. But if you’re ambitious, relentless, and hungry to prove yourself on a team built to dominate, step into the arena. You’ll discover growth and reward here, unlike anywhere else. The base salary range listed is a guideline. Actual
compensation is determined based on skills, experience, and the impact you bring. Total
compensation includes base salary,
bonus, and equity. Salary Range $20,000 — $230,000 USD
At Arena Club, we’re igniting a collectibles revolution. Backed by legendary 5× World Series Champion Derek Jeter and trailblazer Brian Lee, we’ve launched the first-ever digital card show—a dynamic marketplace where innovation, transparency, and pure excitement drive everything we do. Our cutting-edge platform offers unparalleled grading, authentication, secure vaulting, and digital pack openings (Slab PacksTM), giving collectors the power to curate unique online showrooms and redefine their collecting experience.
Salary
$200,000 - $230,000
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Total raised
$25.5M
Last stage
Series A
Investors
Jesse Glass
Co-Founder, CFO & COO
Derek Jeter
Co-Founder (Founding Partner)
No applications, no recruiter spam. Just the intro.
A few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.
I write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.
If they’re a yes, I book the chat. You show up — that’s the whole job-hunt.