Expert Engineer, Security - Central Technology

Demonware•Los Angeles, CA

55d

About The Position

The Expert Engineer, Security will join Activision’s Ricochet team to design and build systems that protect Call of Duty game clients and help detect and eliminate cheating. The role focuses on developing advanced anti-cheat technologies, strengthening existing protection frameworks, and creating cheat-detection mechanisms in response to a changing threat landscape. The engineer will collaborate with engineers across teams and studios to support seamless integration and performance, contributing to fair gameplay for millions of players. Activision Central Tech supports development studios and their titles through expertise in areas such as big data, privacy and security, motion capture and animation pipelines, graphics, build and infrastructure, optimization, systems programming, and online services. Its globally distributed teams combine engineering and research talent, support title development, and share knowledge across studios. The role is based in British Columbia, Canada for purposes of the stated salary range. The standard annual base-pay range is CAD $115,060–$227,010; actual pay varies with experience, performance, and location. Eligible employees may also receive incentive compensation, which is not guaranteed. Activision offers benefits subject to eligibility requirements.

Requirements

At least 8 years of relevant professional software development experience.
Proven experience working on large-scale, complex systems.
Deep familiarity with C++ codebases and refactoring.
Experience in an engineering organization focused on CI/CD, scalability, and automation.
Expertise in debugging, optimization, and performance tuning.
Advanced knowledge of algorithms and data structures.
Strong commitment to delivering high-quality products.
Curiosity and drive to understand, analyze, and improve how systems work under the hood.
Passion for low-level systems work, including comfort reading and debugging compiled code at the assembly level.
Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience working on the internals of a multiplayer game engine.
Experience in reverse-engineering software analysis.
DevOps experience.
Background in mathematics and/or cryptography.
Deep understanding of C++ compilation, linking, and toolchains, including diagnosing compiler and linker failures and optimizing build performance.
Deep understanding of or hands-on experience in the anti-cheat domain.

Responsibilities

Design and implement advanced anti-cheat technologies to address emerging threats.
Analyze, update, and enhance existing protection frameworks.
Investigate, develop, and deploy cheat-detection mechanisms.
Work with engineers across multiple teams and studios to ensure seamless integration and performance.
Help protect Call of Duty game clients and maintain fair gameplay.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Health savings account or health reimbursement account.
Healthcare and dependent-care spending accounts.
Life and AD&D insurance and disability insurance.
401(k) with Company match.
Tuition reimbursement.
Charitable donation matching.
Paid holidays and vacation.
Paid sick time and floating holidays.
Compassion and bereavement leaves.
Parental leave.
Mental health and wellbeing programs.
Fitness programs.
Free and discounted games.
Other voluntary benefit programs, including supplemental life and disability coverage, legal services, identity protection, and rental insurance.
Relocation assistance may be available if the Company requires the employee to move geographic locations for the job.
Eligible employees may receive incentive compensation; it is not guaranteed.