Senior Expert Gameplay Engineer - Raven Software - Middleton, WI

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.; Town of Middleton (WI); On-site; USD 149,000 - 276,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Health Savings Account

Health Reimbursement Account

Life and AD&D insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Job summary

Raven Software in Madison, WI, is seeking a Senior Expert Gameplay Engineer to develop and optimize core gameplay and engine code on PC client and server platforms. The role requires collaboration across art, design, audio, animation, QA, and multiple Raven studios in a fast-paced environment.

Ideal candidates will have shipped at least one game title, extensive C/C++ experience, strong 3D math skills, and a deep understanding of object-oriented programming.

Qualifications

• Shipped at least one game title.
• 13+ years of software engineering experience.
• Experience in gameplay related fields (AI, physics, animation, weapons, scripting, networking).
• Background in multi-threaded code.
• Strong 3D math skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of object-oriented programming.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, and debug gameplay and related engine C/C++ code.
• Develop, modify, and debug gameplay code in proprietary scripting language.
• Deploy, evaluate performance, optimize and test software on PC client and server platforms.
• Collaborate with art, design, audio, animation, QA, and other teams.
• Co‑develop with other Activision studios and document features for teams.
• Participate in scheduling, design, performance and code reviews.

Skills

C/C++

Multi-threading

3D math

OO programming

Gameplay systems

Team collaboration

Job description

Senior Expert Gameplay Engineer

This role is based in our Madison, WI 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, and debug gameplay and related engine C/C++ code
• Develop, modify, and debug gameplay code in proprietary scripting language
• Deploy, evaluate performance, optimize and test software on PC client and server platforms
• Collaborate with other internal departments (art, design, audio, animation, QA, etc.)
• Co‑develop and collaborate with other Activision studios
• Document software and features for internal and external engineering teams
• Participate in the scheduling, design, performance and code review process

Minimum requirements

• Experience shipped at least one game title
• 13+ years of experience in software engineering
• Experience in gameplay related fields like AI, physics, animation, weapons, scripting, networking
• Background in working in multi-threaded code
• Extensive experience working with C/C++ programming
• Proven ability to collaborate, coordinate, communicate and support other team members
• Strong 3D math skills
• Comprehensive understanding of object-oriented programming

Key Attributes

• Creative
• Motivated
• Focused
• Passionate
• Results‑oriented

Extra Points

• Experience working with first‑person shooter gameplay
• Experience with working with networking services like PSN, Xbox Live, or Steam

Company Information

Founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel in Middleton, Wisconsin, Raven Software began as a small studio focused on crafting fantasy and role‑playing games. Since then, our award‑winning portfolio has grown to include beloved titles such as Hexen, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and - for the past 15 years - major contributions to the critically acclaimed Call of Duty® franchise. As the lead developers behind Call of Duty: Warzone and the force behind the campaigns of the Black Ops series, most recently Black Ops 6, we have established ourselves as a key player in shaping the FPS genre and pushing the boundaries of what games can achieve.

Our motto, “Our Work Speaks For Us,” symbolizes the dedication and passion that drives everything we do. We’ve built a team rooted in respect, collaboration, and a shared focus on what’s best for the game. We prioritize ambition balanced with care, direct communication, and a culture free of egos. By fostering innovation and owning our mistakes, we continually push boundaries to create unforgettable games for our players.

As a studio located in Middleton – a suburb of Madison consistently ranked among the best places to live – we offer a thriving, supportive environment paired with exceptional quality of life. As we grow and enter the next chapter of our journey, we’re looking for talented individuals eager to pave new ground in our industry.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply. 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.

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].

Pay and Incentives

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $149,100.00 - $275,876.00 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.

Benefits

Rewards We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ – we’ve got our employees covered!

• 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/