Senior Expert ARM Kernel Developer – RICOCHET - Central Technology

Activision Blizzard, Inc.•Sherman Oaks, FL

9d•$166,990 - $308,980

About The Position

The Senior Expert ARM Kernel Developer will help develop and operate RICOCHET, Activision’s anti-cheat platform, protecting Call of Duty players and supporting fair gameplay. The role addresses complex challenges in Windows kernel development, driver security, platform architecture, and low-level system behavior, with work spanning traditional PC and Windows on Arm devices. Contributions directly affect the security, reliability, and effectiveness of the platform. The position focuses on designing and maintaining kernel-mode driver capabilities across x64 and Windows on Arm; improving production driver functionality, stability, performance, and compatibility; investigating cheat techniques and evasion methods; and collaborating with security engineers, platform teams, studios, and external partners to validate hardware, improve development and testing infrastructure, and ship driver technology in live products. Responsibilities may shift with the threat landscape. Activision Central Tech supports development studios and their titles through specialties including security, systems programming, graphics, infrastructure, optimization, and online services. The team combines engineering and research talent and is distributed across offices in the U.S., Canada, England, Ireland, and Japan. Activision describes its workplace as committed to inclusion and equal opportunity. The U.S. standard base pay range is $166,990–$308,980 annually. The role may also be eligible for incentive compensation, which is not guaranteed. Compensation is negotiable and depends on factors including experience, performance, and work location. Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements.

Requirements

10+ years of professional software development experience with deep expertise in C/C++.
5+ years developing, debugging, and maintaining Windows kernel-mode drivers.
Proven experience building and supporting production-quality system software.
Windows on Arm, ARM64, or ARM64EC development experience.
Experience diagnosing and resolving complex driver, platform, and operating-system compatibility issues.
Experience with automated build, test, and validation environments.
Deep understanding of Windows on Arm, the Windows kernel, the driver model, and operating-system internals.
Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Arm and x86/x64 assembly.
Expert-level debugging skills using WinDbg and related tooling.
Strong understanding of Windows internals, processes, memory, and executable-image internals.
Solid understanding of algorithms and data structures.
Passion for building reliable, high-quality low-level software; curiosity about system internals and complex technical problems; comfort analyzing and debugging at assembly level; strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis; and clear communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Windows security or security software development experience.
Reverse engineering experience.
Experience developing anti-cheat, endpoint security, anti-malware, or EDR solutions.
Experience working with multiplayer game technology.
Understanding of advanced cheat-evasion techniques and rootkits or bootkits, including hypervisors, DKOM, EPT manipulation, and vulnerable-driver abuse.
Deep understanding of C++ build systems, compilation, linking, and toolchains.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain kernel-mode driver capabilities for anti-cheat protections across x64 and Windows on Arm platforms.
Analyze, port, debug, and enhance production driver functionality while ensuring stability, performance, and compatibility across hardware and Windows configurations.
Research cheat techniques and evasion methods, using Windows internals, reverse engineering, and kernel architecture expertise to develop resilient detection and protection mechanisms.
Collaborate with security engineers, platform teams, and external partners to validate hardware compatibility, improve development and testing infrastructure, and ship and operate driver technology in live products.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Health savings account or health reimbursement account and 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 and parental leave.
Mental health and wellbeing programs and fitness programs.
Free and discounted games.
Voluntary benefits including supplemental life and disability coverage, legal services, ID protection, and rental insurance.
Relocation assistance may be available if the Company requires an employee to move for the job.
The role may be eligible for incentive compensation; it is not guaranteed.