Software Engineer, C++, Level 4

Snap; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

paid parental leave

comprehensive medical coverage

emotional and mental health support

long-term equity participation

Job summary

Snap Inc. is seeking a C++ Software Engineer for the Specs Lens Platform in Los Angeles. You will design, optimize, and support LensCore, the AR engine powering Specs, Snapchat Lenses and Lens Studio. Collaboration with multiple teams to deliver high-quality features is essential.

The role requires strong CS fundamentals and experience with rendering APIs, 3D engines, and computer vision. Remote work is limited; typical on-site office presence is expected.

Qualifications

• BS in a technical field or equivalent years of experience.
• 2+ years of industry C++ development experience.
• Experience with rendering APIs (DirectX, Metal, Vulkan or OpenGL).
• Experience with a 3D rendering engine (Lens Studio, Unity or Unreal).
• Experience with computer vision, sensors or machine learning.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support features for LensCore, the AR engine.
• Optimize LensCore engine for Specs and devices.
• Collaborate with teams to bring features to Lens creators.
• Contribute to technical specifications and planning.

Skills

C++ development

3D rendering

Computer vision / ML

Python / JavaScript

Linux/Unix

Team collaboration

Education

BS in technical field

Tools

DirectX

Metal

Vulkan

OpenGL

Lens Studio

Unity

Unreal

Qt

OpenCV

Eigen

glm

Job description

Snap Inc is a technology company. We believe the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. The Company operates Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world, and Specs Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary dedicated to making computing more human, in addition to Bitmoji, Saturn, and other digital services. Specs Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Snap Inc. dedicated to making computing more human. The company develops Specs, advanced eyewear that seamlessly integrates digital experiences into the physical world. Specs feature see-through lenses that place digital objects directly into three-dimensional space, powered by Snap OS, a proprietary, context-aware operating system designed for natural interaction with your hands and voice. Specs Inc. also provides Lens Studio, a full suite of advanced developer tools that powers immersive augmented reality experiences across Specs, Snapchat, and other services.

Role: C++ Software Engineer - Specs Lens Platform

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support features for LensCore, the AR engine driving experiences on Specs, Snapchat Lenses and Lens Studio
• Optimize LensCore engine for Specs
• Work closely with other teams to bring your features to Lens creators
• Participate in feature planning and creating technical specifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong computer science fundamentals
• Great communication skills; ability to work in a team
• Knowledge of scripting languages (one of Python or JavaScript)
• Understanding of Linux/Unix environment and command line tools
• Hands-on with AI dev tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude Code, Codex or similar)

Minimum Qualifications

• BS in a technical field or equivalent years of experience
• 2+ years of industry C++ development experience
• Experience with rendering APIs such as DirectX, Metal, Vulkan or OpenGL
• Experience with a 3D rendering engine like Lens Studio, Unity or Unreal
• Experience with computer vision, sensors, or machine learning

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with modern C++
• Technical leadership experience
• Experience creating developer-facing APIs and libraries
• Knowledge of Qt framework
• Experience with libraries like OpenCV, Eigen and glm.
• Experience with AI-assisted design and development from spec creation to implementation

Default Together Policy

At Snap Inc. we believe that being together in person helps us build our culture faster, reinforce our values, and serve our community, customers and partners better through dynamic collaboration. To reflect this, we practice a “default together” approach and expect our team members to work in an office 4+ days per week.

Inclusivity & Equal Opportunity

At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. EOE, including disability/vets. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law (by example, the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, where applicable).

Benefits

• paid parental leave
• comprehensive medical coverage
• emotional and mental health support programs
• compensation packages that let you share in Snap’s long-term success

Compensation

Compensation In the United States, work locations are assigned a pay zone which determines the salary range for the position. The successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. The starting pay may be negotiable within the salary range for the position. These pay zones may be modified in the future.

Pay Zones

• Zone A (CA, WA, NYC): The base salary range for this position is $157,000-$235,000 annually.
• Zone B: The base salary range for this position is $149,000-$223,000 annually.
• Zone C: The base salary range for this position is $133,000-$200,000 annually.

This position is eligible for equity in the form of RSUs. If you believe this job description is missing required pay transparency information, please submit a report through this form: Job Description Pay Range Disclosure.

Curious what it's like to work at Snap? Meet the people behind our products and discover how our values shape the way we create, innovate, and connect.

SPECS: See how Snap is bringing computing into the world around us with SPECS, our next-generation augmented reality glasses built for real life.

Snap News: Explore the latest stories about our products, innovation, and the people shaping what's next at Snap.