Senior Gameplay Engineer II | Irvine, CA

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 124,000 - 229,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA

401(k) with company match

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is seeking a Senior Gameplay Engineer II in Irvine, CA, offering a hybrid work week blending remote and on-site days.

You will shape gameplay systems, collaborate with designers, animators, and engineers, and push the technical foundations for scalable, high-quality experiences. The role requires deep C++ expertise, 12+ years in game development, and a track record shipping AAA titles.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in game development engineering or equivalent
• Highly proficient in C++
• Strong foundation in data structures, logic, algorithms, and code architecture
• Shipped at least one AAA title in a role with complex gameplay systems
• Expert debugging and problem-solving skills
• Experience with modern development tools and workflows
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Partner with design on combat, traversal, and RPG systems to drive in-engine experimentation
• Collaborate with animators, designers, and engineers on best practices for content creation
• Assist with foundational project infrastructure and core systems
• Contribute to sustainable engineering workflows and team practices
• Evaluate gameplay features for performance and memory, communicating tradeoffs
• Learn and understand the architecture for large game systems with technical leadership
• Profile, debug, and optimize gameplay systems for quality and scalability
• Mentor engineers across disciplines through code reviews and knowledge sharing
• Support a culture of inclusion and diversity

Skills

C++

AAA title experience

Data structures

Algorithms

Debugging

Tools/Development

Communication

Job description

Team Name: Diablo Job Title: Senior Gameplay Engineer II | Irvine, CA Requisition ID: R028279

Job Description: 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 cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people. We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Engineer II to build and evolve the gameplay systems that bring our game to life. You will collaborate closely with designers, animators, artists, and engineers to create, refine, and deliver compelling player experiences. As a key member of the development team, you will help shape the technical foundations, workflows, and engineering practices that support the game’s development and growth for years to come.

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

• Partner with design on combat, traversal, and RPG systems, driving in-engine experimentation to quickly bring ideas to life so they can be iterated on and refined.
• Collaborate with animators, designers, and other engineers on best practices for art and design content creation.
• Assist with setting up foundational project infrastructure and core systems that can scale over time as the team grows.
• Contribute to the formulation of sustainable engineering workflows and team best practices.
• Evaluate the technical, performance, and memory implications of gameplay features, communicating tradeoffs and recommendations to stakeholders in a collaborative manner.
• Partner with technical leadership to learn the existing and future architecture for large game systems.
• Profile, debug, and optimize gameplay systems to ensure quality, responsiveness, scalability, and performance.
• Mentor and collaborate with engineers across disciplines through technical guidance, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.
• Participate in and contribute to a culture of inclusion and diversity

Minimum Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in game development engineering or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Highly proficient in C++.
• Strong foundation in data structures, logic, algorithms, and code architecture skills.
• Shipped at least one AAA title in a role where you authored and maintained complex gameplay systems while partnering closely with design to help bring the game's creative vision to life.
• Expert debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivation and willingness to participate in many areas of game development.
• Experience leveraging modern development tools and workflows to improve productivity and collaboration.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Extra Points

• Experience developing for and shipping on modern console platforms (Xbox, Sony, Nintendo)
• Familiarity with tool development and programming in C#.

Your Platform

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), 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 World Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet! 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! 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 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 [e-mail]. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest. 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

• 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/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $124,000.00 - $229,400.00 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.

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.