Lead Software Engineer, Server - Diablo | Irvine, CA or Albany, NY

Team Name:

Diablo

Job Title:

Lead Software Engineer, Server - Diablo | Irvine, CA or Albany, NY

Requisition ID:

R026765

Job Description:

We Need You

The minions of hell are growing stronger…

Join us as we continue to shape the Diablo universe! Diablo games are action RPG experiences with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish Dungeons, and legendary loot. Come work with us, and togetherwe’llcreate something amazing. Our team of passionate developers is growing.

We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer,Online toassistin the creation of new ARPG experiences within one of Blizzard’s most iconic worlds, Diablo. In this role, you will define and evolve the online architecture that underpins our connected gameplay,building systems and services that must be as resilient and scalable as they are creatively empowering.You’llwork in close partnership with designers, client engineers, and technical stakeholders to turn ambitious gameplay visions into seamless online experiences that feel effortless to players.We’relooking for a leader who excels at navigating complex, interwoven technical challenges with clarity and originality, and who brings both engineering rigor and a deep passion for crafting player‑centric game experiences.

This role offers a flexible hybrid work week, with a mix of remote and on-site days.While hybrid is the standard arrangement, you’re also welcome to workon-sitefull-time if you prefer. Our primary studio locations are in Albany, NY, and Irvine, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Help shape anddrivethe online technical strategy, defining architectures and services that support scalable, resilient, and secure connected gameplay.

• Providetechnical direction, mentorship, and code‑level guidanceto a team of engineersthatelevateengineering quality and craft.

• Build andmaintainbackend systems that deliver reliable, performant online features,from foundational services to gameplay‑driven networked interactions.

• Partner closely with design, client engineering, and cross-team leadershipto bring social, multiplayer, and service‑driven features from concept to shipped implementation.

• Collaborate with central technology and platform teams to integrate shared services,alignrequirements, and deliver cohesive online experiences across Blizzard ecosystems.

• Work with production and project leadership to prioritize work, understand dependencies, and ensure smooth execution across teams.

• Champion engineering excellence, promoting sound architecture, maintainability, testing practices, and efficient workflows that scale with the project.

MinimumRequirements:

• 10+ years ofprofessional experiencedeveloping online orsystems-level features, ideally including work on a shipped game or large‑scale interactive product.

• Deepexpertisein C++ and strong software engineering fundamentals, with the ability to drive architectural decisions and uphold code quality across a team.

• Hands‑on experience with distributed systems or client/server architectures, and an understanding of how to build scalable, resilient online services.

• Familiarity with backend and data technologies such asRedis, Cassandra, Pulsar, or comparable platforms used in large online ecosystems.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work closely with cross‑disciplinary partners and guide technical discussions.

• A track recordof thriving in dynamic, iterative development environments, balancing long‑term technical vision with day‑to‑day delivery.

Bonus:

• Experience shipping and supporting a live, globally‑scaled online game or service.

• Expertisewith Windows and Linux server environments, including performance profiling and operational considerations.

• Hands‑on experience with cloud, containerization, or virtualization technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, or equivalent platforms.

• Strong networking fundamentals, including practical experience with TCP, UDP, and higher‑level protocols used in real‑time multiplayer systems.

• Familiarity with large‑scale backend and data technologies (e.g., SQL, Cassandra, Pulsar) and how they apply to modern game services.

• Understandingsecurity best practices for online systems, including encryption, threat mitigation, and denial‑of‑service considerations.

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 wasacquiredby 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, witha track recordthat 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,technologyand 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 thrivein order toconnect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical,emotionaland financial well-being for ‘Every World’ -we’vegotour employees covered!

The video game 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 the qualifications?Let usdecide! 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 reasonableassistanceto 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 accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. 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 discriminateon the basis ofrace, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• 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 $146,000.00 - $270,004.00 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.