Principal Software Developer - Full Stack (Unity, C#)

About the role

Zynga is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in the Austin, Eugene, Toronto, San Mateo, Carlsbad, or Chicago areas. This role involves developing and maintaining core client technology, engine-level systems, and infrastructure for a game with a casual audience. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in game development, particularly in mobile platforms.

Responsibilities

• Define, architect, and develop core systems and client infrastructure in Unity and C#
• Diagnose and resolve complex, game-wide technical issues such as slow load times, low frame rates, memory pressure, and build/runtime stability
• Own the evaluation, upgrade, and maintenance of third-party libraries, SDKs, and engine dependencies
• Design and implement foundational architecture changes that enable future feature roadmaps for feature-focused engineers to build upon
• Produce technical design documentation and implementation plans for infrastructure and systemic initiatives
• Scope and cost work accurately from loosely defined requirements, presenting estimates with clear assumptions and identified risks
• Adapt plans and technical approaches when requirements or platform constraints change
• Review code, technical design documentation, and implementation plans for other team members
• Proactively profile, optimize, and refactor code to meet team performance and stability KPI goals
• Explore, develop, and integrate new technologies and tools that benefit the broader engineering team
• Work closely with other engineers to lead multi-week or month-long infrastructure and tooling efforts
• Give team and divisional tech talks on architectures that you’ve built
• Help to mentor other engineers

Requirements

• B.Sc. in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent education / work experience
• 6+ Years game industry / mobile app experience as a software developer
• Shipped titles and/or live games experience, especially mobile (iOS / Android)
• Expert knowledge in C#
• 3+ Years Unity experience, including engine-level and low-level systems work
• A solid understanding of client/server architecture in modern mobile games
• Understanding, interest and knowledge of server-side architecture in mobile games
• Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms and software methodologies
• Demonstrated experience diagnosing and resolving performance issues such as load times, frame rate, and memory usage
• Experience upgrading, integrating, or maintaining third-party libraries, SDKs, or engine versions
• Experience with the AWS ecosystem, Kubernetes, and back end monitoring technologies such as Datadog
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working in a collaborative environment
• Excellent ability to foresee and proactively resolve blockers, technical risk, and points of failure
• Excellent ability to function in an asynchronous distributed work environment while still tuning in to key team meetings
• Experience with git
• Experience with performance profiling and optimization tools

Skills

• Experience with Unity engine source modification or custom engine forks
• Experience with build pipeline, CI/CD, or dev tooling for game teams
• Experience playing and working on games that target a casual audience
• Experience using Claude Code or a similar AI coding tool

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program
• Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year
• Paid parental and compassionate leave
• Wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support
• Family planning support through Maven
• Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses

Pay and Schedule

The pay range for this position in Toronto at the start of employment is expected to be between $114,300 and $164,300 per Year. In California, it's between $133,900 and $180,000 per Year, and in Illinois, it's between $120,600 and $170,000 per Year. Base pay offered is based on market location and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates.

Benefits

To learn more about our benefits, visit the Zynga Benefits site. Zynga is an equal opportunity employer and provides support for individuals with disabilities and health conditions. We do not engage in financial exchanges over unofficial channels and do not use artificial intelligence for screening candidates. For accommodation requests or support related to your application, please contact accommodationrequest@zynga.com. For more information about our company and culture, visit our careers page.