Expert Engine Engineer - Treyarch - Los Angeles, CA

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

$124K — $229K *
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, focused on game engine or core runtime development.
  • Deep expertise in C++ and experience with large codebases.
  • Strong skills in debugging and optimizing core engine or runtime systems.
  • Solid understanding of CPU performance, memory systems, and multithreaded programming.
  • Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and performance analysis abilities.
  • Experience with AAA console and PC title launches across multiple platforms.
  • Strong communication and collaboration capabilities with engineering teams.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement core runtime engine systems within a large C++ codebase.
  • Optimize performance, stability, memory usage, and multithreading.
  • Profile runtime systems for various platforms, including PC and consoles.
  • Investigate and resolve complex bugs and performance issues.
  • Collaborate with other engineering teams to enhance engine technology.
  • Participate in technical design and code reviews as well as long-term planning.
  • Mentor engineers, providing guidance on architecture and best practices.

Benefits

  • 20 vacation days and 16 holidays, plus additional family leave.
  • Comprehensive healthcare including medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • 401(k) plan with company match and tuition reimbursement.
  • Mental health and wellbeing programs, along with fitness initiatives.
  • Free lunches and snacks provided at the office.
Full Job Description
Job Title:
Expert Engine Engineer - Treyarch - Los Angeles, CA

Requisition ID:
R027833

Job Description:

Treyarch, the studio behind the best-selling Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise, is seeking an Expert Engine Engineer to join our Core Engine team. This is an opportunity to help shape the technology that powers our next blockbuster, cutting-edge game title while working alongside some of the best engineering, design, and creative talent in the industry.

At Treyarch, Engine Engineers on the Core Engine team focus on the foundational runtime technology that powers the game. This includes performance, memory, streaming, multithreading, platform support, stability, and optimization across supported platforms. This is primarily a game and engine runtime role, not a tools, workflow, or graphics-focused position, though experience in those areas is valuable.

This role can be based in either our Playa Vista, CA or our Vancouver, BC office and follows an onsite work schedule of four days per week. Work arrangements may change at the company's discretion to meet business needs.

What you'll do...
  • Design, implement, refactor, optimize, and debug core runtime engine systems across a large, established C++ codebase.
  • Improve game performance, stability, memory usage, streaming, multithreading, and platform-specific behavior.
  • Profile and optimize runtime systems across supported platforms, including PC and consoles.
  • Investigate complex bugs, crashes, performance issues, and low-level engine problems.
  • Work closely with pipeline, graphics, tools and other engineering teams to deliver robust engine technology.
  • Participate in technical design, code reviews, performance reviews, and long-term engine roadmap discussions.
  • Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance on architecture, debugging, optimization, and best practices.

To succeed you should have...
  • 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, with significant experience in game engine, core systems, or runtime development.
  • Deep C++ expertise and proven ability to work effectively in a large, established codebase.
  • Strong experience designing, debugging, and optimizing core engine or runtime systems.
  • Solid understanding of computer architecture, memory systems, CPU performance, data-oriented optimization, and multithreaded programming.
  • Excellent debugging, profiling, performance analysis, and optimization skills.
  • Experience shipping AAA console and PC titles across multiple platforms.
  • Ability to independently research, prioritize, and solve complex technical problems.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills across engineering teams.
  • Passion for writing clean, efficient, reliable, and maintainable code.

We'd love it if you also have...
  • Experience contributing to a proprietary or bespoke internal game engine.
  • Experience with runtime memory systems, streaming technology, asset loading, or platform-level systems.
  • Experience with low-level systems such as I/O, memory management, job systems, task scheduling, or platform abstraction.
  • Strong 3D math and linear algebra skills.
  • Experience with game networking, animation systems, physics, build infrastructure, distributed systems, or async programming.
  • Graphics programming experience on console or PC, including rendering APIs, GPU architecture, or graphics performance analysis.
  • Experience mentoring senior engineers or helping guide technical direction across a team.
  • Multiple shipped AAA titles.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! At Activision Blizzard, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

This role can be based in either our Playa Vista, CA or our Vancouver, BC office and follows an onsite work schedule of four days per week. Work arrangements may change at the company's discretion to meet business needs.

PS, we've also got some pretty amazing office perks and benefits, like 20 vacation days and 16 holidays, 10 weeks of family leave, free lunches and snacks at our office, comprehensive healthcare, and more! Check out all the details here for more information: https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
  • Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
  • 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
  • Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
  • Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
  • If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.


Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $124,000.00 - $229,400.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.

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