Associate Tech Director, World Systems

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 159,000 - 293,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, CA is seeking an experienced Associate Technical Director, World Systems to build robust toolsets and flexible game systems for a large, content-rich world. Hybrid work week with on-site and remote days.

You will lead a cross-disciplinary World Systems team, guiding architecture, hiring and mentoring engineers, and ensuring technical quality, stability, and performance of World Systems.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in game engineering with at least 3 years in leadership.
• Proven leadership and project management across cross-functional teams.
• Experience shipping large game systems for AAA titles.
• Proactive focus on quality, continuous improvement and pragmatic plans.
• C++ programming, debugging, profiling and optimization.
• Gameplay architecture and real-time systems expertise.
• Navigate priorities under uncertainty and changing requirements.
• Clear communication and constructive feedback across teams.
• Performance analysis and optimization workflows.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with discipline directors to set World Systems vision and roadmap.
• Support cross-functional gameplay teams to realize their vision for a rich world.
• Prioritize and direct a cross-disciplinary World Systems team daily.
• Drive architecture and toolsets to boost productivity and quality.
• Ensure engineering and content teams align on technical approaches.
• Hire and grow engineers and engineering leaders, fostering collaboration.
• Ensure technical quality, stability and performance of World Systems.
• Partner with leads to improve team culture and technical alignment.

Skills

C++ programming

Leadership

Gameplay architecture

Real-time systems

Collaborative communication

Performance optimization

Mentoring engineers

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Team Name: Unannounced Project

Job Title: Associate Tech Director, World Systems

Requisition ID: R028070

At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations - only made possible by building a work environment that nurtures the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people. We are seeking an experienced Associate Technical Director, World Systems to help us build robust toolset and flexible game systems to create a large and content rich world, present players with interesting missions and challenges. If you are excited to build pragmatic technology that enables the team to produce unforgettable high-quality experiences at scale, we need you! This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine, CA location.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other discipline directors to establish, drive and deliver on World Systems vision and development roadmap
• Support cross-functional gameplay and content teams in bringing their vision to life, creating an interesting, complex, and challenging world
• Prioritize, review and direct work of a cross-disciplinary World Systems team on a day-to-day basis
• Drive architecture and content creation toolset to ensure team productivity and high quality of results
• Ensure engineering team is collaborating with content creators and other gameplay teams to understand their needs and develop an aligned technical approach
• Hire and grow engineers and engineering leaders, providing guidance and fostering a collaborative, innovative environment
• Direct responsibility for technical quality, stability and performance of World Systems implementation
• Partner with other leads and directors to improve team culture, align technical approach and provide direct support when needed

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in game engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership or managerial role within the gaming industry or a related field
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a team, manage multiple projects, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Experience shipping large game systems and content workflows for a modern, large-scale AAA game with focus on long-term maintenance, efficiency and quality
• A proactive mindset focused on quality, continuous improvement, and stewardship driving development with clear requirements and pragmatic plans
• Advanced proficiency in C++ programming, debugging, profiling, and performance optimization
• Strong understanding of gameplay architecture, real-time systems, and modern software engineering practices
• Experience finding success and alignment when faced with uncertainty and conflicting or evolving priorities
• Communicating ideas clearly, learning from others, and giving meaningful feedback
• Experience with performance analysis and code / content optimization workflows

Extra Points

• Experience working with Unreal Engine
• Shipping games on multiple platforms, including consoles
• Familiarity with Blizzard games and Blizzard's approach to gameplay quality.

Your Platform At Blizzard Entertainment

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we've been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We're on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences…ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard "secret recipe," but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision. If that sounds like you, join us. Our World Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., 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 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.

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/.

Base Pay Range

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $158,500.00 - $293,226.00 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.

About Blizzard Entertainment

Blizzard Entertainment is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software. After establishing the Blizzard Entertainment label in 1994, the company quickly became one of the most popular and well-respected makers of computer games. By focusing on creating well-designed, highly enjoyable entertainment experiences, Blizzard Entertainment has maintained an unparalleled reputation for quality since its inception.