Senior Expert Gameplay Engineer - Raven Software - Middleton, WI

About the role

Your mission is to create, implement, and refine highly cinematic, player-first experiences that will be enjoyed by millions of gamers worldwide as a Senior Expert Gameplay Engineer. Thriving in a dynamic and often ambiguous environment is essential. This role requires agility and flexibility, as you'll collaborate closely with a variety of internal and external partners. Through prototyping, iteration, and a commitment to high-quality standards, you'll craft engaging and rewarding player experiences. This position demands a balance of creativity, technical expertise, leadership, and a deep understanding of player motivations to develop unforgettable in-game moments. Above all, we seek an innovative and dedicated engineer who will help bring our game to life—setting a new standard for excellence in the competitive AAA FPS space.

Schedule

This role is based in our Madison, WI office and follows an onsite work schedule of four days per week. Work arrangements may change at the company's discretion to meet business needs.

Responsibilities

• Develop, modify, and debug gameplay and related engine C/C++ code
• Develop, modify, and debug gameplay code in proprietary scripting language
• Deploy, evaluate performance, optimize and test software on PC client and server platforms
• Collaborate with other internal departments (art, design, audio, animation, QA, etc.)
• Co-develop and collaborate with other Activision studios
• Document software and features for internal and external engineering teams
• Participate in the scheduling, design, performance and code review process

Player Profile Experience

Minimum requirements

• Shipped at least one game title
• 13+ years of experience in software engineering
• Experience in gameplay related fields like AI, physics, animation, weapons, scripting, networking
• Background in working in multi-threaded code
• Extensive experience working with C/C++ programming

Knowledge & Skills

• Proven ability to collaborate, coordinate, communicate and support other team members
• Strong 3D math skills
• Comprehensive understanding of object-oriented programming

Key Attributes

• Creative, motivated, focused, passionate, results-oriented
• Demonstrated ability to write efficient, clean, readable, portable, and reliable code
• Passion for games

Extra Points

• Experience working with first-person shooter gameplay
• Experience with working with networking services like PSN, Xbox Live, or Steam

Your Platform

Founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel in Middleton, Wisconsin, Raven Software began as a small studio focused on crafting fantasy and role-playing games. Since then, our award-winning portfolio has grown to include beloved titles such as Hexen, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and - for the past 15 years - major contributions to the critically acclaimed Call of Duty® franchise. As the lead developers behind Call of Duty: Warzone and the force behind the campaigns of the Black Ops series, most recently Black Ops 6, we have established ourselves as a key player in shaping the FPS genre and pushing the boundaries of what games can achieve. Our motto, “Our Work Speaks For Us,” symbolizes the dedication and passion that drives everything we do. We’ve built a team rooted in respect, collaboration, and a shared focus on what’s best for the game. We prioritize ambition balanced with care, direct communication, and a culture free of egos. By fostering innovation and owning our mistakes, we continually push boundaries to create unforgettable games for our players. As a studio located in Middleton - a suburb of Madison consistently ranked among the best places to live - we offer a thriving, supportive environment paired with exceptional quality of life.

Pay

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $149,100.00 – $275,876.00 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.