Senior Software Engineer, Client - Demonware - Vancouver, BC

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

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health plan

RRSP with Company match

Paid holidays

Job summary

Activision Blizzard Inc. in Vancouver, BC seeks a Senior Software Engineer (Client) to design and evolve C++ client libraries and tools powering Call of Duty online services. You will own build pipelines, improve CI observability, and mentor engineers while collaborating with studios across console and PC platforms.

You will contribute to robust APIs, reliable networking, and scalable client SDK components for live-service games, with onsite work four days a week in Vancouver.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience with C++ in 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 apps, backend systems, and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Own build pipelines for the Client Code SDK and maintain Windows/console builds.
• Keep CI fast, reliable, observable, and well-instrumented for C++ products.
• Design and implement new features in C++ client libraries.
• Debug complex production issues spanning client, network, and backend services using logs and captures.
• Collaborate with game teams to integrate SDK features and promote best practices.
• Write and review technical designs and help define coding standards.
• Contribute to internal tooling that makes online features easier to test and ship.

Skills

C++

Modern C++

CI/CD

Networking

Wireshark

CMake

Build pipelines

Code reviews

Tools

Jenkins

TeamCity

Job description

Senior Software Engineer, Client - Demonware - Vancouver, BC Requisition ID: R027559

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 Bandicoot, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, 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.

Rewards

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.

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

Equal Opportunity

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.

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.