Senior Software Engineer, Client - Demonware

Activision; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health plan

RRSP company match

Paid holidays & vacation

Job summary

Activision is seeking a Senior Software Engineer (Client Code) in Vancouver, BC, to design, implement, and evolve C++ client libraries and tools powering Call of Duty and other titles. You will own build pipelines, improve CI, and deliver robust APIs and networking solutions across platforms.

You will collaborate with game studios and Demonware service teams, mentor engineers, and raise the bar for developer experience while ensuring reliability at scale.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software engineering with C++ in games/engines/SDKs.
• Strong expertise in modern C++ and build systems like CMake.
• Experience with backwards-compatible APIs or libraries.
• Solid networking knowledge (TCP/UDP, HTTP/HTTPS, REST).
• Proficient with network debugging/observability tools e.g. Wireshark.
• Familiar with CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins/TeamCity) and live-service environments.
• Ability to analyze cross-functional problems across client, backend and infra.

Responsibilities

• Own build pipelines for the Client Code SDK and improve Windows/console builds.
• Design and implement new features in C++ client libraries.
• Debug production issues spanning client, network, and backend services.
• Collaborate with game teams to integrate SDK features and review usage patterns.
• Write and review technical designs and help define coding standards.
• Contribute to internal tooling for testing, diagnostics and deployment.

Skills

Modern C++

C++ build systems (CMake)

Backward-compatible APIs

Networking fundamentals (TCP/UDP, HTTP

WS debugging with Wireshark

CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins/TeamCity)

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Tools

CMake

Job description

Your Mission

The Client Code team builds and maintains the client-side online services SDK used by Call of Duty and other Activision titles. We own the C++ libraries and tooling that provide core network communication for games as well as connect game clients to Demonware’s wide range of online services.

As a Senior Software Engineer (Client Code), you will design, implement, and evolve C++ client libraries and tools that power some of the biggest game launches in the world. Partnering closely with game studios and Demonware service teams, you will deliver robust APIs, efficient networking solutions, and reliable build pipelines across console and PC platforms. In this role, you will have the opportunity to raise the bar for build systems, CI processes, and overall developer experience, while owning and evolving core C++ client SDK components used across multiple AAA titles. You will also contribute to improving the reliability and observability of client-to-backend communications at massive scale and play a key role in mentoring engineers in modern C++, networking fundamentals, and build and tooling best practices.

This role is based in 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 Bring To The Table

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Own our build pipelines for the Client Code SDK:
  • Maintain and improve Windows and console builds to accelerate developer feedback loops.
  • Keep CI fast, reliable, observable, and well-instrumented for all our C++ products.
• Design and implement new features in our C++ client libraries.
• Debug complex production issues that span client, network, and backend services, using logs, packet captures, and focused reproduction harnesses.
• Collaborate with game teams to integrate SDK features, review usage patterns, and promote best practices.
• Write and review technical designs, perform code reviews, and help define coding standards for the team.
• Contribute to internal tooling (build systems, test harnesses, diagnostics tools) that make online features easier to test, validate, and ship.

Minimum Requirements

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience with C++ within games, engines, SDKs, or other performance-sensitive systems.
• Strong expertise in modern C++
• Experience with C++ build systems e.g. CMake
• Experience with building effective backwards compatible APIs or libraries.
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals such as TCP/UDP, HTTP/HTTPS, and REST APIs.
• Proficient with network debugging and observability tools such as Wireshark
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, e.g. Jenkins or TeamCity.
• Proven ability to analyze and resolve complex cross-functional problems spanning client applications, backend systems, and infrastructure.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with experience working directly with stakeholders, customers, and distributed engineering teams.
• Comfortable operating in live-service or service-oriented environments with shared ownership, operational responsibilities, and on-call/support rotations where appropriate.

Extra Points

• Experience integrating online services SDKs into games or other client applications.
• Familiarity with console development environments (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, etc.).
• Experience building headless clients, bots, or load-test clients for multiplayer or online features.
• Prior work with:
  • Game or engine-level networking layers.
  • Telemetry / logging / metrics systems for a game or local client application.
  • Crash reporting, exception handling, or stability tooling.
• Contributions to developer experience: internal tools, documentation, sample projects, or code-generation pipelines.
• Interest in game development and online play – e.g., understanding of matchmaking, parties, lobbies, progression systems, or anti-cheat integration.

Your Platform

Demonware is a member of the Activision family of studios. We work alongside engineers and creatives at our AAA partner studios and deliver the online and data services required by our massive franchises. We have launched well over 100 games, and our services connect multiple millions of players each day into epic entertainment experiences.

While Call of Duty continues to push us to build bigger and better systems year on year. We also have a strong history of supporting great franchises such as Tony Hawk, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Guitar Hero, and Skylanders.

Our success comes from our talented and passionate people. Our work environment is welcoming and collaborative, we deliver on time and at scale.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash BandicootTM, Tony Hawk’sTM Pro SkaterTM, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.

We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater—this could be your opportunity to level up.

Ready to Activate Your Future?

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 [e-mail]. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

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 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:

• Extended health plan, including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, for employees and their dependents, as well as disability insurance;
• RRSP with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other benefit programs like supplemental life & critical illness, legal service, 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.

The standard base pay range for this role is $100,220.00 - $197,758.00 CAD. These values reflect the expected annualized base pay range of new hires in British Columbia, Canada. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed.