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

Activision Blizzard • Irvine, CA

23h • $146,000 - $270,004 • Hybrid

About The Position

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 together we’ll create something amazing. Our team of passionate developers is growing. We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer, Online to assist in 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’ll work 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’re looking 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 work on-site full-time if you prefer. Our primary studio locations are in Albany, NY, and Irvine, CA.

Requirements

• 10+ years of professional experience developing online or systems-level features, ideally including work on a shipped game or large‑scale interactive product.
• Deep expertise in 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 as Redis, 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 record of thriving in dynamic, iterative development environments, balancing long‑term technical vision with day‑to-day delivery.

Nice To Haves

• Experience shipping and supporting a live, globally‑scaled online game or service.
• Expertise with 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.
• Understanding security best practices for online systems, including encryption, threat mitigation, and denial‑of-service considerations.

Responsibilities

• Help shape and drive the online technical strategy, defining architectures and services that support scalable, resilient, and secure connected gameplay.
• Provide technical direction, mentorship, and code‑level guidance to a team of engineers that elevate engineering quality and craft.
• Build and maintain backend systems that deliver reliable, performant online features, from foundational services to gameplay‑driven networked interactions.
• Partner closely with design, client engineering, and cross-team leadership to bring social, multiplayer, and service‑driven features from concept to shipped implementation.
• Collaborate with central technology and platform teams to integrate shared services, align requirements, 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.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed