DevOps / Backend Engineer (Junior to Mid-Level) – Egofold

DevOps / Backend Engineer (Junior to Mid-Level) – Egofold

Company: Snail Games USADepartment/Initiative: Egofold – AI DevelopmentJob Type: Full-TimeLocation: Hybrid – Los Angeles Area (1–2 Days Onsite per Week)Salary Range: $110,000 – $145,000 Annually

About EgoFold

Snail Games USA is a global developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, dedicated to creating innovative and immersive gaming experiences. Since 2009, Snail Games has been committed to pushing the boundaries of technology, creativity, and interactive entertainment.

As part of our continued investment in emerging technologies, Snail Games is expanding its capabilities in artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, and advanced software development.

One of these initiatives is Egofold, an AI-focused technology initiative within Snail Games that develops Non-Human Players (NHPs)—intelligent AI agents designed to perceive, learn, make decisions, and interact with video games much like human players.

Unlike traditional scripted game AI, NHPs are designed to learn from experience and adapt across different games, providing a common AI foundation for a range of interactive products and services.

Through Egofold, Snail Games combines AI research with practical engineering to explore new applications for intelligent agents and AI-driven technologies.

About the Role

Snail Games USA is seeking a hands-on Backend / DevOps Engineer to join our engineering team supporting the Egofold AI initiative.

In this role, you will design, develop, and maintain the backend services, APIs, and supporting infrastructure that power AI-enabled applications, intelligent agents, and simulation environments.

This is an individual contributor position within a small, fast-moving engineering team where developers take ownership of their work—from understanding requirements and designing solutions through implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance.

Your primary focus will be backend development, with additional responsibilities supporting cloud infrastructure, deployment automation, and DevOps workflows. You will collaborate closely with Snail Games' AI engineers and researchers to transform evolving technologies into reliable, functional products.

We are looking for a resourceful engineer who enjoys solving technical challenges, works independently, and adapts quickly to changing priorities. The ideal candidate values practical execution, takes initiative, and is comfortable contributing across technical disciplines without requiring constant oversight.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to Snail Games' growing AI technology capabilities while helping establish scalable and reliable engineering foundations for future products.

Key Responsibilities

• Backend Development: Design, implement, test, and maintain backend services, APIs, and data integrations supporting AI agents, internal applications, and simulation environments.

• End-to-End Engineering Ownership: Take responsibility for assigned systems and features from initial requirements and architecture through implementation, deployment, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

• Cloud Infrastructure & DevOps: Develop and maintain cloud infrastructure, containerized applications, CI/CD pipelines, deployment automation, and system monitoring.

• System Performance & Reliability: Identify and resolve technical issues, optimize backend performance, and implement reliable, maintainable solutions.

• AI Systems Integration: Collaborate with AI engineers and researchers to integrate backend services with AI models, intelligent agents, and evolving machine learning workflows.

• Automation & Deployment: Improve development and deployment efficiency through scripting, automation, testing, and infrastructure improvements.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work directly with engineering and research teams to prototype solutions, troubleshoot integration challenges, and deliver functional systems as requirements evolve.

• Technical Documentation: Maintain clear documentation of backend services, APIs, infrastructure configurations, and deployment procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional backend software engineering experience with demonstrated ability to independently develop and maintain production-quality applications.

• Strong proficiency in Python, Go, or a comparable backend programming language.

• Hands-on experience designing, developing, and integrating RESTful APIs or similar backend services.

• Practical experience working with relational or NoSQL databases.

• Working knowledge of Linux environments, Git, and cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure.

• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker.

• Familiarity with automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, deployment processes, and infrastructure troubleshooting.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to independently investigate and resolve technical challenges.

• Demonstrated initiative, accountability, and ownership of assigned engineering projects.

• Effective communication skills and willingness to collaborate across engineering disciplines.

• Ability to work effectively in a small, fast-paced engineering environment with evolving technical requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing backend services supporting artificial intelligence, machine learning applications, or data-intensive systems.

• Familiarity with Kubernetes, Terraform, or comparable infrastructure automation technologies.

• Experience with distributed systems, observability tools, and scalable cloud infrastructure.

• Familiarity with GPU computing environments or AI model deployment infrastructure.

• Experience supporting simulation environments, intelligent agents, or AI-driven applications.

• Background working in startup environments, research-focused engineering teams, or emerging technology initiatives.

• Experience building and maintaining backend systems from early prototypes through production deployment.

Why Join EgoFold?

• Innovative AI Projects: Contribute to the development of intelligent systems and next-generation gaming technologies.

• Professional Growth: Gain practical experience with AI infrastructure, cloud technologies, and modern backend engineering.

• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside AI researchers, software engineers, and technical specialists.

• Technical Development: Expand your expertise through hands-on engineering challenges and exposure to emerging technologies.

• Meaningful Impact: Help build the foundational infrastructure supporting Egofold's evolving AI ecosystem.

Our Benefits Include:

• Competitive annual salary of $110,000 – $145,000

• Strong focus on work/life balance

• Paid company holidays

• Paid vacation and separate sick leave

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match

• Opportunities to contribute to innovative AI and emerging technology initiatives

Equal Employment Opportunity

Snail Games USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Work Authorization Requirements

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. This position does not offer visa sponsorship now or in the future (including H-1B).

Additional Information

As part of the Company’s activities in video game development, publishing, and short-form video content creation, certain projects, discussions, or creative materials may include themes, visuals, language, or subject matter that some individuals could find mature, violent, sexual, graphic, or otherwise sensitive in nature (collectively referred to as “Mature Content”). Examples may include, but are not limited to, depictions or descriptions of combat, violence, adult themes or relationships, suggestive or satirical humor, or strong language. Employees are expected to engage with such material in a professional and creative context as part of their job duties.