Software Engineering Manager – Infrastructure

At i3D.net, we provide world-class global coverage with one of the most interconnected networks in the world. Our solutions focus on low latency, zero packet loss, and unmatched scalability, enabling seamless experiences for millions of users worldwide. With dedicated support, bespoke solutions, and cutting-edge technology, we deliver reliable, cost-efficient infrastructure that empowers game developers and businesses to scale effortlessly. Partnering with major names like Nvidia, DuckDuckGo, Discord, and Ubisoft, we are shaping the future of gaming and network technology.

At i3D.net, our product suite spans the full spectrum of infrastructure solutions:

• Metal: Dedicated servers providing raw compute power.

• Unified Platform: Enhancing our core Metal product with tools for game hosting, and platforms, to ensure seamless user experiences, including Anti-DDoS, Bare Metal Cloud, Anti-Cheat, and more.

• Network: A global backbone delivering robust connectivity solutions, including IP transit.

• SmartDC: Colocation services through our data centers in Rotterdam, Paris, and Montreal.

Why your role matters

As Software Engineering Manager for the Infrastructure Software team, you’ll lead the group behind FlexMetal - i3D.net’s bare-metal platform that delivers hardware-level control with cloud-like agility.

Your team builds and operates the software that powers every step of our physical infrastructure - from global server automation to the client-facing portal where it all begins. When a customer orders a server, your systems handle it from request to ready: cleaning hardware, configuring networks, deploying operating systems, and delivering secure servers across multiple data centers.

This is a people-focused and technically involved role. You’ll coach senior engineers, shape architecture, and work closely with Product and the Technical Director to turn customer and business goals into scalable, reliable engineering outcomes - ensuring the software that drives i3D.net’s global infrastructure is fast, stable, and built to last.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor: Guide a team of ~6 senior backend engineers (Go, PHP) through 1:1s, technical coaching, and performance reviews.

• Translate product goals: Work closely with Product Management to turn roadmap priorities into clear engineering requirements and actionable delivery plans.

• Provide technical direction: Drive architectural alignment, design reviews, and hands-on participation in key system decisions.

• Partner with leadership: Collaborate with the Technical Director to shape growth frameworks, career development, and team autonomy.

• Oversee modernization: Manage the transition from legacy Laravel/PHP APIs to Go-based services, balancing scope, cost, and stability.

• Ensure delivery excellence: Oversee the full software lifecycle - from design and test (TDD) to deployment and maintenance - with platform engineer support.

• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with Platform, Network, Hardware, and Product teams to ensure smooth integration across systems and customer outcomes.

• Champion engineering culture: Promote CI/CD, test-driven development, and a “you build it, you deploy it, you support it” philosophy.

Tech stack

At i3D.net, you’ll work with:

• Languages: Golang, .NET, PHP (legacy) – the core API remains in Laravel, but all new development is in Go.

• Infrastructure & Tools: Docker, Kubernetes, Ansible, GitLab pipelines, OpenSearch (Logging & observability)

• Databases: MariaDB (MySQL variant).

• Practices: Test-Driven Development (TDD), CI/CD pipelines, Agile workflows - following a “you build it, you deploy it, you support it” mindset.

• Scope: Systems span multiple data centers and integrate directly with hardware and network automation layers.

• Services: The team builds and maintains small, focused microservices for provisioning, QA checks, and state management.

What success looks like in the first year

• Reliable and predictable delivery: Your team consistently ships production-quality systems on schedule.

• Modernization in motion: The PHP-to-Go transition delivers measurable results in scalability and maintainability.

• Outcome-driven engineering: Product goals are translated into clear, impactful technical solutions.

• Autonomous, high-performing team: Engineers operate with ownership and confidence, requiring minimal oversight.

• Strong collaboration: Product and Engineering work hand in hand, with aligned priorities and fast delivery cycles.

About you

• Experienced leader: 5+ years leading and mentoring senior backend engineers in production environments.

• Technically hands-on: Strong backend development background, ideally with Go or PHP, and a good grasp of modern API and service architectures.

• Product-aware: Proven ability to turn product and business goals into clear engineering outcomes.

• Infrastructure-minded: Experience with systems spanning multiple data centers, integrating with hardware provisioning or network automation.

• Skilled in tooling: Proficient with Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Ansible, and GitLab pipelines.

• Architectural thinker: Experienced in system design and modernization, balancing innovation with reliability and cost.

• Collaborative partner: Comfortable working closely with Product and technical leadership to align strategy and execution.

• Quality-focused: Solid understanding of TDD, CI/CD pipelines, and reliability engineering.

• Excellent communicator: Clear, structured, and empathetic - able to bridge technical and non-technical perspectives.

• Remote vs Onsite: Hybrid role based in Rotterdam. If you’re in the Netherlands, great; if not, relocation support is available (EU work permit required)

Why Join i3D?

• Impact at scale: Your team’s work powers the infrastructure behind millions of users worldwide.

• End-to-end ownership: Small teams with autonomy to make real technical decisions.

• Competitive Perks: Annual bonus, 25 vacation days (excluding national holidays), travel allowance, and a solid pension plan.

• Stay Active: Free access to our in-house gym in Rotterdam.

• Global Reach: Be part of a company with over 20 years of growth, serving a worldwide market.

• Free Games: Enjoy lifetime access to Ubisoft’s game library