Senior Software Developer

Have you ever jumped into a Minecraft world, battled in ARK, or built in Rust? Chances are, you’ve already played on a Shockbyte server. With 60+ games supported and hundreds of thousands of players worldwide, we’re one of the largest game server hosting companies on the planet.

We’re not just building servers — we’re building the future of multiplayer. At Shockbyte, you’ll join a high-performing global team that’s passionate about making game server hosting seamless for players and studios everywhere.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Senior Software Developer to serve as our technical anchor in Melbourne. This isn't just a role for a "ticket-crusher"—we want a product-led, self-managed Full Stack Product Builder who functions as a strategic all-rounder.

You will transform our Melbourne office from a satellite hub into a self-sustaining product engine. By owning the Australian time zone, you’ll eliminate "dead time," unblock local initiatives, and act as a high-velocity technical resource for the CEO and Marketing teams. You will be a pioneer in AI, using tools like Claude Code and the latest LLM models to automate workflows and rapidly prototype new applications.

Important: Because our core engineering team is based in Europe, this role requires a flexible schedule. You will be expected to attend meetings and syncs outside of regular Australian business hours to ensure seamless collaboration and knowledge transfer.

Responsibilities

• Drive Executive Velocity: Act as the primary dev resource for the CEO and Marketing to execute high-priority, rapid-turnaround tasks.
• Lead AI Innovation: Push our AI usage forward by building full-scale applications and automation suites using Claude Code and latest AI trends.
• Full-Stack Ownership: Contribute to core squads (Panel or Platform) while handling high-impact tasks like billing module rewrites (PayPal/WHMCS) and site improvements in Storyblok.
• Establish Local Knowledge: Improve technical documentation and act as the "go-to" lead for the Melbourne team.
• On-Call & Reliability: Provide dedicated coverage during Australian business hours and maintain syncs with the European dev team.

Requirements

• 5+ Years of Senior Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Familiarity with the gaming industry, including events such as GDC or Gamescom.
• AI-Native Workflow: Highly experienced with Claude Code, LLM prompt engineering, and the latest AI development best practices.
• Product-Led Mindset: Ability to function as a hybrid between a Product Owner and Developer, identifying problems independently and building foundations.
• Independent & Proactive: A self-managed "A-player" capable of planning work and setting priorities without constant follow-up.
• Timezone Flexibility: Comfortable working late or adjusting hours for crossover syncs with the European engineering team.
• Melbourne-Based: Ability to work from our Melbourne office 3 days per week to sync with local leadership.
• Gamer & Hosting Enthusiast: You don’t just play games; you understand the server-side mechanics. Whether you’ve managed a Minecraft community, climbed the ranks in Rust, or built a home lab, you’re genuinely passionate about game server hosting and performance.
• Deep Architectural Expertise: You aren't just a coder; you are a system designer. You possess a profound understanding of how to build software that is secure, scalable, and performant. In an AI-driven "Vibe Coding" workflow, you act as the human anchor who ensures the "blueprint" is flawless. You understand the trade-offs of different patterns and can architect distributed systems that handle high-concurrency and massive data loads without breaking a sweat.

Preferred Skills

• Background in cloud infrastructure or game server orchestration.
• Experience scaling a technical team or acting as a Team Lead.
• Passion for automation and "Vibe Coding" to replace manual dev cycles
• Experience in IT or sysadmin roles. You are comfortable in a Linux terminal and understand networking, bare-metal orchestration, and what happens "under the hood" of a server.

Benefits

• 🌏 Hybrid Work – Flexibility to work from home or the office.
• ⏰ Flexible Working Hours – Work around your peak productivity times.
• 🚀 Career Growth – Clear progression pathways and long-term opportunities.
• 📚 Professional Development Budget – Courses, certifications, and conferences.
• 💻 Home Office / Coworking Stipend – Create your perfect workspace.
• 🎮 Virtual Team Events – Trivia, escape rooms, and epic game nights.
• 👕 Company Merch Packs – Hoodies, mugs, and stickers designed for our team.
• ✈️ Travel Opportunities – Represent Shockbyte at global industry events.
• 🖥️ Free Game Server Hosting – Spin up your own servers and play on us.
• 🏆 Esports & Gaming Events – Free tickets to tournaments and expos.

Your application will include the following questions:

• Are you currently located in Melbourne, Australia, or within commuting distance?
• Do you have full working rights in Australia?
• Which best reflects your view on use of AI in the workplace?
• What is your annual salary expectation in AUD for this role?