Gameplay Engineer, Combat - STARCRAFT

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with Company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Mental health programs & wellbeing

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. in Irvine is seeking a Software Engineer to build next-gen STARCRAFT gameplay. You will craft combat experiences, character behaviors, navigation, and gameplay tech as part of a collaborative team.

You will contribute to performance-optimized systems, work with designers and artists, and help deliver high-quality features across a hybrid work week with on-site days in Irvine.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in gameplay engineering or equivalent.
• Contributions on action-focused combat systems, NPC AI, navigation, or features on at least one shipped title.
• Strong C++ programming skills including performance analysis and optimization.
• Experience delivering high-quality features as part of a cross-functional team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain combat systems for player-NPC interactions with performance focus.
• Collaborate with encounter, character, and system designers to translate goals into robust tech.
• Work with designers, artists, animators, and engineers to implement polished combat experiences.
• Identify bottlenecks, risks, and challenges; propose practical solutions.
• Coordinate with cross-disciplinary teams to diagnose issues and drive fixes.

Skills

C++

Gameplay systems

Performance optimization

Cross-functional teamwork

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Your Mission

Blizzard Entertainment is assembling a team to build the next chapter of STARCRAFT, returning to a universe forged in interstellar war. This mission offers something new: crafting an original story-driven, open-world shooter while honoring the legacy of one of Blizzard's most beloved games.

We are here to reignite this universe alongside you. We are here to make STARCRAFT, and it's about damn time.

We are looking for a Software Engineer to help craft this new game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for delivering. You will be responsible for developing combat experiences, character behaviors, navigation systems, and gameplay technologies that make combat gameplay fun. Alongside a talented team of engineers, designers and artists, you will build the foundations that power engaging, responsive, and immersive gameplay.

This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine studio.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain combat systems supporting interactions between players and NPCs, with a strong emphasis on performance, scalability, and maintainability.
• Partner with encounter, character, and system designers to transform gameplay goals into robust technical solutions.
• Collaborate with designers, artists, animators, and gameplay engineers to implement polished combat experiences.
• Identify performance bottlenecks, technical risks, and implementation challenges while proposing practical solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary and technical partners to diagnose issues and drive fixes to resolution.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in gameplay engineering or a combination of applicable training and related experience.
• Contributions on action focused combat systems, NPC AI, navigation, or gameplay features on at least one shipped title.
• Strong C++ programming skills, including performance analysis and optimization.
• Experience delivering high-quality features as part of a cross-functional team including designers, artists, animators, level designers, FX artists, etc.

Bonus Points

• Experience working with Unreal Engine
• Experience and interest in character animation, navigation, combat or gameplay mechanics
• Experience and interest in combat gameplay
• Console development experience

Your Platform

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. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being for Every World - we've got our employees covered.

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.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $38.08 - $70.44 Hourly. 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.