Lead Software Engineer, Tools

Team Name

Job Title:

Lead Software Engineer, Tools | Unannounced | Irvine, CA

Requisition ID

R027360

Job Description

Your Mission

At Blizzard, we craft genre‑defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and technical excellence, we create immersive universes and iconic experiences beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations — only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.

We are looking for a Lead Tools Software Engineer to help craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team and a technical and people leader, you will guide a team responsible for the development and evolution of workflows and tools that artists, designers, and programmers rely on every day. By directly managing engineers and collaborating closely with project leadership, you will help define strategic initiatives and establish clear, achievable goals aligned with project needs.

This role offers a flexible hybrid work week from our Irvine, CA studio location, 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.

Responsibilities

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Lead, evaluate, and mentor an engineering team responsible for the core editor experience, tools, and asset‑creation pipelines.
• Partner with production staff and the broader leadership team on milestone planning and tracking development progress.
• Collaborate closely with designers, artists, and other cross-functional partners to understand workflow needs and translate them into intuitive and efficient tooling solutions, with a focus on scalability and long‑term maintainability.
• Author and maintain tooling technical design documents outlining key architectural decisions, features, milestones, and technical risks.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive team culture aligned with Blizzard’s core values.
  
  

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Experience

Minimum Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in game development engineering, or a combination of applicable training and experience.
• Previous leadership experience, including delivery of at least one shipped game title.
• Experience using Unreal Engine, working with both C++ and Blueprint.
• Proven experience designing and implementing game‑creation software or developer tools.
• Experience working within large, cross‑disciplinary development environments.
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• Advanced knowledge of C++, including established patterns and modern language features.
• Ability to produce frequent, readable, and well‑tested code commits.
• Strong understanding of effective user interactions and developer experience.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to clearly share ideas, provide meaningful feedback, and actively listen.
• Strong debugging and problem‑solving skills.
  
  

Key Attributes

• Commitment to doing things the right way, even when it is challenging.
• Willingness to iterate and refine solutions until they reach a high bar of quality.
• Respect for diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration.
• Practical, solution‑oriented mindset that builds upon the ideas and work of others.
• Service‑oriented mindset.
  
  

Bonus Points

• Computer science, mathematics, physics, or related degree(s).
• Experience making games with large, open worlds.
• Enthusiasm for games and game development.
• Links to shipped tools, engine work, or technical writeups.
  
  

Your Platform

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our World

Interested in relocating to United State? Check out our comprehensive Relocation Jobs in United State page with detailed relocation packages and benefits.

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.  We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!

The video game industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all the qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics. 

Rewards

Requirements

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• 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.
  
  

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $121,500.00 - $224,880.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.