Senior Software Engineer, Game Systems

Level; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Level is seeking a Software Engineer to build and evolve the foundational technology powering Level's games. You’ll work at the intersection of game engine development and internal tooling, writing low-level code that keeps gameplay fast and pipelines reliable.

You’ll design, implement, and optimize core engine systems, build internal tools, profile performance, and collaborate with gameplay engineers and artists to improve engine capabilities for long-term maintainability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years in professional software engineering with game engine systems or low-level tooling.
• Strong C++ proficiency and memory/ multithreading expertise.
• Experience with build systems and CI/CD in game or real-time software.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain core game engine systems including memory management, asset loading, threading, and runtime performance.
• Build and improve internal tools and build systems across a distributed team.
• Profile and optimize performance-critical code paths on target platforms.
• Collaborate with gameplay engineers, artists, and designers to improve engine usage.
• Establish engineering best practices for code quality, testing, and documentation.
• Contribute to technical roadmaps and architecture decisions for long-term maintainability.

Skills

C++ proficiency

Build systems (CMake/Bazel)

Memory management and multithreading

System-level performance analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Equivalent professional experience

Tools

CMake

Bazel

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Level is a learning technology company dedicated to helping students build real academic and life skills with confidence and joy. We combine proven curriculum principles with world class interactive design to make meaningful practice something students want to come back to, not something they struggle through.

We support what teachers, schools, and parents are already doing by increasing student engagement with high quality, standards aligned practice that reinforces classroom learning. That’s why we’re building:

For students: Rewarding and motivating learning experiences that meet students where they are to build real academic proficiency.

For educators: Tools that fit naturally into instruction and help students stay engaged while reducing teacher workload.

For parents: Activities that help your kid catch up or get ahead, build confidence, and minimize homework battles, whether learning at school or at home.

We are committed to helping every person maximize their potential and live a life of meaning. It’s a difficult problem that requires brilliant people and tremendous effort over time.

Level is looking for a Software Engineer to help us build and evolve the foundational technology that powers Level's games. You'll work at the intersection of game engine development and internal tooling. Writing the low-level code that makes our gameplay fast, our development cycles efficient, and our pipelines reliable. This is a role for someone who thinks in memory layouts and cache lines as naturally as they think in abstractions, and who gets genuine satisfaction from building systems that other engineers depend on every day.

What You’ll Do:

• Design, implement, and maintain core game engine systems — including memory management, asset loading, threading, and runtime performance
• Build and improve internal tools and build systems that support the full development lifecycle across our distributed team
• Profile and optimize performance-critical code paths on target platforms
• Collaborate closely with gameplay engineers, artists, and technical designers to understand how engine systems are used in practice — and make them better
• Establish and advocate for engineering best practices around systems-level code quality, testing, and documentation
• Contribute to technical roadmaps and architecture decisions with a focus on long-term maintainability and scalability

Qualifications

Need to Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field, or equivalent professional experience
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with meaningful time spent on game engine systems, runtime infrastructure, or low-level tooling
• Strong proficiency in C++ (modern standards); comfort with performance analysis and debugging at the systems level
• Hands-on experience with build systems (e.g., CMake, Bazel, or similar) and CI/CD pipelines in a game or real-time software context
• Deep understanding of memory management, multithreading, and platform-level constraints
• Experience shipping products on at least one major platform (PC, console, or mobile)
• Strong communication skills — you can explain complex systems tradeoffs to both technical and non-technical collaborators

Nice to Have:

• Experience in educational technology, learning management systems, or adaptive learning platforms
• Familiarity with game engine programming, such as rendering, game physics, animation, or performance optimization techniques
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and DevOps practices
• Experience with mobile game development (iOS/Android)
• Familiarity with data analytics or AI/ML applications in education or gaming
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles
• Contributions to open-source projects or published games/educational applications
• Experience with AR/VR technologies and immersive learning experiences