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Activision Blizzard · 3 days ago

Principal Engineer, Security - Game Protection

Los Angeles, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Lead/Staff

$154K/yr - $285K/yr

15+ years exp

Activision Blizzard is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment, known for its iconic franchises like Call of Duty. As a Principal Engineer on the Game Protection team, you will design and implement advanced anti-cheat technologies to ensure fair play in gaming, while collaborating with engineers across multiple teams to enhance game security.

Console GamesGamingMedia and EntertainmentPC GamesVideo Games

Responsibilities

Innovate and Evolve: Design and implement advanced anti-cheat technologies to stay ahead of emerging threats

Strengthen Core Systems: Analyze, update, and enhance existing protection frameworks to maintain top-tier security

Detect and Defend: Investigate, develop, and deploy cheat detection mechanisms that keep gameplay fair and fun

Collaborate Across Studios: Work closely with engineers across multiple teams to ensure seamless integration and performance

Qualification

C/C++PythonAnti-cheat technologyX86_64 assemblyCI/CDAlgorithmsData structuresOptimizationDebuggingGame developmentWindows kernel developmentARM64 assemblyDevOps experienceClear communication

Required

15+ years of professional software development experience

Strong passion for delivering high-quality products

Proven experience architecting and implementing multiple versions of large-scale applications or services that span complex systems

Proficiency in C/C++ and Python

Ability to read and write x86_64 assembly

Knowledge of compiler theory and code obfuscation techniques

Experience working in an engineering organization with a focus on CI/CD, scalability, and automation

Advanced knowledge of algorithms and data structures

Expertise in optimization and debugging at scale

Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal

Preferred

Game development experience

Deep understanding or hands-on experience in the anti-cheat domain

Familiarity with Call of Duty game architecture and cheat ecosystem

Experience analyzing cheat software

Professional experience in Windows kernel development

Ability to read and write ARM64 assembly

DevOps experience

Benefits

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