Full-Time

Principal Engineer

Posted on 11/30/2025

Activision-Blizzard

Activision-Blizzard

1,001-5,000 employees

Global developer and publisher of games

Compensation Overview

$167.5k - $309.9k/yr

+ Incentive Compensation

Austin, TX, USA + 1 more

More locations: Los Angeles, CA, USA

In Person

Relocation required to Los Angeles, CA or Austin, TX.

Category
Software Engineering (1)
Required Skills
Python
Data Structures & Algorithms
Lua
C/C++
Requirements
  • 15+ years of development experience
  • Proficiency in C/C++
  • Advanced knowledge of algorithms and data structures
  • Advanced optimization and debugging skills
  • Game development experience
Responsibilities
  • Design, write, debug, and improve systems and tools that primarily support UI/UX development
  • Build roadmaps for improving the architecture and drive them to completion
  • Work in C/C++, Python, Lua and other languages
  • Work closely with your peers across the franchise
  • Collaborate with UI/UX Artists and Designers
  • Contribute to game architecture, technical designs, and postmortems
  • Perform data and code analysis to identify improvement opportunities
  • Provide mentorship to other engineers
Desired Qualifications
  • Proficiency with C#, Python, Lua
  • Experience with hosting scripting environments, specifically with regards to VM interop
  • Console development experience (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo)
  • Experience working with large teams distributed across the globe.

Activision Blizzard develops and publishes video games and related services for PC, console, and mobile. It operates popular franchises like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, Diablo, Candy Crush, Hearthstone, and Overwatch across multiple genres and platforms. Revenue comes from game sales, in-game purchases, subscriptions, advertising, merchandise, and esports events. The company builds a large global community and aims to deliver socially connected gaming experiences at scale while monetizing through multiple channels.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Santa Monica, California

Founded

1979

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Playtika's January 2026 layoffs enable recruiting 500 experienced mobile gaming talents cheaply.
  • Ubisoft's early 2026 restructuring allows attracting top developers for Call of Duty enhancements.
  • GDC 2026 report shows 36% AI adoption, accelerating Activision's development efficiency.

What critics are saying

  • Xbox growth stalls post-$70 billion Activision buyout, with 2025 holiday revenues at 12-year low.
  • 800 layoffs in 2025 after record earnings concentrate work on small teams, causing burnout by 2027.
  • Battlefield 6's August 2026 launch cannibalizes Black Ops 7's holiday sales.

What makes Activision-Blizzard unique

  • Iconic franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft engage 400 million players across 190 countries.
  • Diverse revenue from game sales, subscriptions, in-game purchases, esports, and advertising sets it apart.
  • Corporate initiatives like Call of Duty Endowment have employed over 100,000 veterans.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Mental Health Support

Wellness Program

Relocation Assistance

Company News

ChannelNews
Sep 3rd, 2025
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Paramount has struck a deal with Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard to develop a live-action Call of Duty feature.

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Aug 19th, 2025
Activision Fakes a Tech Launch to Promote Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

In its latest campaign, Activision launched "The Guild," a fake robotics firm built to promote Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

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Aug 15th, 2025
Prediction Market Kalshi Appears in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Ad

There are several claims online that Kalshi has partnered with Activision in some way, but there's no official word from either company that the partnership is any deeper than Kalshi appearing in the trailer.

Insider Gaming
Aug 13th, 2025
Black Ops 7 Leaks Suggest Remastered Maps and Return of Specialist Abilities

On August 19, during the Opening Night Live showcase, Activision's studios will unveil Black Ops 7 beyond what they've already shown, hopefully contending for their slice of the FPS pie and wrangling attention away from Battlefield 6.

INACTIVE