Principal Software Engineer, Server

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Job Description:

Blizzard is looking for a highly motivated and talented Principal Server Engineer to help craft a new, unannounced game. Our team values creativity, collaboration, and a dedication to quality, and we are searching for contributors aligned to our core Blizzard values to add to our team of dedicated game makers. 

As a principal server engineer, you will work with designers and other engineers to drive the architectural vision, mentor engineers, and ensure our server-side solutions meet the highest standards in terms of quality, security and efficiency.

We’re looking for individuals to play a key part in designing, building and optimizing mission-critical backend services that are secure, scalable, resilient, and performant to support millions of players.

This role is a hybrid work position, with some work required to be on-site and some work-from-home. The home studio is Irvine, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop sophisticated .NET server-side systems ensuring scalability and reliability

• Design and implement highly modular, distributed services, focusing on service isolation, API gateways, and inter-service communication

• Ensure services are secure, reliable, and follow best practices, including robust CI/CD pipelines, monitoring and alerting

• Work cross-functionally with production, client developers, game designers, and others to deliver seamless server-side experiences

• Continuously analyze, troubleshoot, and optimize the performance of services

• Bolster the success of fellow team members by offering technical guidance, engaging in code reviews, and providing mentorship to junior team members

Requirements: 

• Expert skills in C# and .NET

• Strong understanding of microservices architecture including service discovery, load balancing, observability, and API gateways in large-scale systems

• Experience working on turn-based or real-time networked multiplayer games over unstable connections

• High comfort level working in collaboration on a large, complex codebase

• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with designers and other engineers, both verbally and in writing

• Experience working on and maintaining a large-scale live game

• Knowledgeable in event-driven architecture using technologies such as Kafka

Extra Points:

• Database development experience (e.g. Cassandra)

• Experience with AAA game engines like Unity

• Experience with public cloud infrastructures (e.g. Azure, AWS, etc)

• Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related degree

• Familiarity with Blizzard’s game universes

Your Platform 

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. 

Our World 

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet! 

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.  We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! 

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. 

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! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply. 

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.  

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.  

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/.