Senior Expert ARM Kernel Developer – RICOCHET - Central Technology

Activision Publishing•Sherman Oaks, CA

About The Position

The Senior Expert ARM Kernel Developer will build and evolve RICOCHET anti-cheat platform protections for traditional PC and Windows on Arm devices. The role focuses on Windows kernel development, driver security, platform architecture, and low-level system behavior, with direct impact on the security, reliability, and effectiveness of RICOCHET and the experience of Call of Duty players. The developer will design, develop, and maintain kernel-mode driver capabilities across x64 and Windows on Arm platforms; analyze, port, debug, and enhance production driver functionality; research cheat techniques and evasion methods; and work 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. Team priorities may change with the threat landscape, so the responsibilities may extend beyond the listed areas.

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, process, memory, and executable image internals.
Solid understanding of algorithms and data structures.
Passion for building reliable, high-quality low-level software; curiosity about how systems work internally; comfort analyzing and debugging code at assembly level; strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills; and clear, effective communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Windows security or security software development.
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 technologies, including rootkits, bootkits, 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 maintaining stability, performance, and compatibility across hardware and Windows configurations.
Research cheat techniques and evasion methods, applying Windows internals, reverse engineering, and kernel architecture expertise to develop detection and protection mechanisms.
Partner 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; healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
Life and AD&D insurance and disability insurance.
401(k) with Company match.
Tuition reimbursement and charitable donation matching.
Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, 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 the employee to move geographic locations for the job.
The role may be eligible for incentive compensation; incentive compensation is not guaranteed.