Senior Software Engineer, Data Engineering

Rockstargames; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 121,400 - 161,800; Full time

Job summary

Rockstar Games is seeking a Senior Software Engineer in Data Engineering to enhance player experiences through a game analytics platform. This full-time position is based at the new game development studio in Carlsbad, CA.

The ideal candidate should have strong skills in Java, Python, and Kafka, as well as experience in designing scalable streaming systems. Rockstar offers a competitive salary range of $121,400–$161,800 per year, depending on location and experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience building production software systems.
• Strong experience with Java and Python in data processing applications.
• Experience designing streaming systems using Kafka.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain high-throughput streaming and batch data processing services.
• Develop and operate stream‑based applications for real-time data processing.
• Contribute to platform-level concerns such as deployment automation.

Skills

Java

Python

Kafka

Scala

Distributed Systems

Tools

Databricks

Kubernetes

Apache Spark

Job description

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences.

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry.

Rockstar Games is seeking a Senior Software Engineer in Data Engineering to join a team focused on building a cutting‑edge game analytics platform and tools to better understand our players and enhance their experience in our games.

The ideal candidate will be skilled in developing complex ingestion and transformation processes with an emphasis on reliability and performance. In collaboration with Data Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, and other Software Engineers, the candidate will empower the team of Analysts and Data Scientists to deliver data‑driven insights and applications to company stakeholders.

This is a full‑time, in‑office position based out of Rockstar’s new state‑of‑the‑art game development studio in Carlsbad, CA.

WHAT WE DO

• The Rockstar Games Online Services team builds the technology foundation that powers our games and delivers world‑class player experiences.
• Our Data Engineering group manages petabyte‑scale data, integrating dozens of streaming and batch sources with strict requirements for reliability, compliance, and low‑latency processing.
• We approach data engineering with the rigor of software engineering by applying modern practices such as clean architecture, modular design, and automated testing. Our focus is on building scalable, reusable platforms and frameworks that enable our partners in Data Science and Game Development to deliver insights and unlock new possibilities for players.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, build, and maintain high‑throughput streaming and batch data processing services, with a primary focus on raw and bronze‑level ingestion.
• Develop and operate stream‑based applications responsible for real‑time data transformation, enrichment, validation, and routing.
• Own and evolve event schemas and data contracts, including Avro schemas and Schema Registry governance.
• Ensure scalability, fault tolerance, and performance of streaming and ingestion pipelines under heavy load.
• Contribute to platform‑level concerns such as deployment automation, observability, operational tooling, and CI/CD.
• Participate in the design and implementation of cloud‑native data infrastructure supporting real‑time and batch workloads.

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of professional experience building production software systems, preferably in a distributed or data‑intensive environment.
• Strong experience with Java (and/or Scala) as well as Python, in backend or data processing applications.
• Experience designing and operating streaming systems using Kafka or Kafka Streams (or similar).
• Experience working with event‑driven architectures, including schema evolution and compatibility.
• Experience building real‑time and/or near‑real‑time data pipelines at scale.
• Solid understanding of distributed systems concepts (partitioning, fault tolerance, backpressure, exactly‑once/at‑least‑once semantics).
• Familiarity with Avro, Protobuf, or similar serialization formats and schema governance practices.

PLUSES

• Experience with Databricks, particularly for ingestion, bronze‑layer processing, or structured streaming.
• Experience deploying and scaling applications in containerized environments (e.g., Kubernetes, AKS).
• Experience working with artifact repositories (e.g., Artifactory, ProGet, Maven repositories).
• Experience with Infrastructure‑as‑Code (e.g., Terraform, Databricks Asset Bundles).
• Familiarity with the Microsoft Azure cloud ecosystem.
• Familiarity with Apache Spark.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and deployment workflows.

EEO STATEMENT

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect. In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process in order for such applicants to be considered for the position for which they are applying, as well as to qualified employees to enable them to perform the essential functions of their roles. If you need more information about Rockstar’s reasonable accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please notify your recruiter during the interview process. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.

The pay range for this position in San Diego at the start of employment is expected to be between $121,400—$161,800 USD per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at‑will position” and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.