Lead Software Engineer - EA SPORTSTM NHL

Electronic Arts; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 141,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 weeks vacation

10 days sick leave

Top-up EI/QPIP

Extended health/dental/vision

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

Electronic Arts in Vancouver is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to drive architecture across multiple platforms for the EA SPORT NHL title. You will guide team execution with designers, artists and engineers to deliver next-generation features and robust systems.

You will mentor a high-performing team, collaborate with Frostbite developers, and champion performance, memory management and scalable code. The role emphasizes quality, collaboration, and impactful gameplay experiences.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional software or game development experience.
• Excellent C++ skills and experience architecting complex software.
• Proven leadership and mentoring of a team of 5+ engineers.
• Experience evaluating emerging AI technologies and guiding tool adoption.
• Strong memory management, multi-threading, and runtime optimization knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement core systems and technical designs for future games.
• Collaborate with Frostbite engine developers to push technical boundaries.
• Integrate new technology into EA SPORT NHL title to enhance player experiences.
• Mentor and guide an engineering team from discovery to integration.
• Champion code quality, performance, and stability across platforms.
• Identify and attract top engineering talent to the team.
• Lead adoption of AI-assisted development tools with best practices.

Skills

C++

Technical leadership

AI technologies

Memory management

Multi-threading

Performance optimization

Object-oriented design

Tools

Frostbite engine

Job description

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

EA SPORTTM is one of the most iconic brands in entertainment – connecting hundreds of millions around the world to the sports they love through a portfolio of industry-leading video games

EA SPORTTM NHL has revolutionized sports gaming for millions of players worldwide. We’ve pioneered award-winning creative technology and experiences to connect players to the speed, skill, and heart of the NHL.

The EA SPORTTM NHL franchise is founded on passion and new ideas. Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the team is composed of diverse talent dedicated to creating on-ice experiences that connect gamers around the world through play. If you're a creative pioneer with a passion for your craft, this will be more than a job. It’ll be what you love.

As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be at the core of the game creation process. You will lead the architectural design and implementation of technology across multiple platforms, partnering directly with the Development Director and Producer to guide team execution and foster a collaborative team culture. Working alongside designers, artists, and other engineers, you will help define complex, next-generation features spanning rendering, user interface, platform systems, machine learning, and tools.

Your Responsibilities:

• Architect and implement the core systems and technical designs that will define our future games.
• Collaborate directly with the creators of the Frostbite engine to push the boundaries of what's possible in game development.
• Partner with the teams behind our EA SPORTTM NHL title to integrate new technology and deliver unforgettable player experiences.
• Mentor a passionate and high-performing engineering team, guiding them from technical discovery through to final integration.
• Champion code quality, performance, and stability to ensure our games are optimized and robust.
• Help us build our dream team by identifying and attracting top-tier engineering talent.
• Champion and drive team-wide adoption of AI-assisted development tools, defining and enforcing guidelines and best practices to incorporate AI into coding and workflows effectively and responsibly

Your Qualifications:

• A deep passion for gaming and a drive to create amazing interactive entertainment.
• Proven technical leadership and experience mentoring a team of 5+ engineers
• Proven experience in evaluating emerging AI technologies, leading teams through tool and workflow transformation, and educating teams on safe and high-impact AI usage
• Excellent C++ skills and a strong portfolio of designing and architecting complex, object-oriented software.
• The ability to take a high-level vision and drive it to execution with excellence.
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical teams.
• 6+ years of professional software development experience.
• Professional software or game development experience. Previous work in large, multiplatform codebases is a plus.
• A solid understanding of memory management, multi-threading, and runtime optimization.

Pay Transparency - North America

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$141,400 - $204,400 CAD

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.