Senior Software Engineer (Contract – Hybrid – Austin, TX)

Senior Software Engineer (Contract – Hybrid – Austin, TX)

A prominent client in the gaming industry is actively seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Engineer to join their dynamic team. This 6-month contract position, based in Austin, Texas, offers a flexible hybrid work model, blending onsite collaboration with remote flexibility. As a vital member of the Battle.net Game Service Access team, the ideal candidate will possess excellent communication skills, strong problem-solving abilities, and a collaborative mindset, all essential for successfully aligning within this innovative organization. This role also has the possibility of extension or conversion to a permanent position.

What You’ll Be Doing: Crafting Gaming’s Core Services

As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll play a critical role in developing and maintaining the large-scale distributed systems that power Battle.net, directly impacting the global gaming experience. Your responsibilities will bridge core platform development with support for game integration and reliability.

• Develop and Maintain Large-Scale Distributed Systems: You will be responsible for meticulously developing and maintaining large-scale distributed systems. This involves designing, coding, and optimizing backend services that handle millions of concurrent users and high transaction volumes. Your work will ensure the scalability, reliability, and performance of the core infrastructure that underpins Battle.net’s global operations.
• Implement Features in Game SDKs: You will be instrumental in implementing new features within the SDKs (Software Development Kits) that are utilized across all games integrated with the Battle.net platform. This requires a deep understanding of SDK development, ensuring that new functionalities are robust, easy for game developers to integrate, and perform optimally across various gaming titles. Your contributions directly enhance gameplay experiences and platform capabilities.
• Create Sample Applications for Platform Features: You will proactively create sample applications that demonstrate how to effectively use key platform features. These sample applications will run across a variety of environments, including desktop, consoles, and mobile devices. Your work here serves as vital documentation and practical guidance, enabling game developers and other integrators to efficiently leverage Battle.net’s capabilities.
• Create Unit and Integration Test Code for Service Reliability: You will be diligent in creating comprehensive unit and integration test code to rigorously validate service reliability. This involves designing test cases that cover various scenarios, automating tests within CI/CD pipelines, and ensuring that new features and existing functionalities meet strict quality and performance standards before deployment. Your focus on testing is crucial for maintaining an “always-on” service.
• Write API Documentation for Developers: You will be responsible for meticulously writing clear and comprehensive API documentation for consumption by game developers and other integrators. This involves detailing API endpoints, request/response formats, authentication methods, error codes, and usage examples. High-quality documentation is paramount for enabling seamless integration of games with the Battle.net platform and supporting external developers.

What’s Needed: Your Expertise in Game Service Development

To excel as a Senior Software Engineer in this high-stakes gaming environment, you’ll need extensive C++ development experience, strong foundational computer science skills, and familiarity with distributed systems and databases.

• Extensive C++ Software Development Experience: You must possess 5 years of demonstrable experience with software development in C++. This indicates deep proficiency in low-level programming, memory management, and developing high-performance code, which is foundational for game services and large-scale distributed systems.
• Experience with C#: You are required to have practical experience with C#. This broadens your capability, indicating versatility across different programming languages that may be used within the Battle.net ecosystem or for tooling.
• Experience Building High-Quality Software: You must have a proven track record of building high-quality software. This includes a commitment to clean code, robust testing, performance optimization, and developing maintainable and scalable solutions in a professional environment.
• Excellent Communication Skills: You possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. This is crucial for collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., game developers, product managers), articulating complex technical concepts, and writing clear API documentation.
• Strong Data Structure, Logic, and Algorithm Skills: You bring strong data structure, logic, and algorithm skills. This foundational computer science knowledge is vital for designing efficient and optimized solutions for large-scale distributed systems and for tackling complex problem-solving challenges inherent in game service development.
• Working Knowledge of Databases (Relational and NoSQL): You must have a working knowledge of various database technologies, including both relational databases like MySQL and NoSQL databases such as Cassandra or Redis. This indicates your ability to interact with, query, and understand data storage mechanisms crucial for managing game-related information and user data.
• Experience Supporting a Live Always-On Service: You have proven experience supporting a live, always-on service. This demonstrates your understanding of the demands of a 24/7 production environment, including monitoring, incident response, troubleshooting under pressure, and ensuring high availability for critical user-facing systems.

Bonus Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science: While not strictly required, a Bachelor’s degree in computer science is considered a significant bonus. This academic background provides a strong theoretical foundation in software engineering principles and problem-solving methodologies.

What’s in it for me? Impact, Growth, and Gaming Innovation

This 6-month contract opportunity as a Senior Software Engineer in Austin, TX, offers a compelling environment for professional growth and significant impact within a leading gaming industry client.

• Opportunity to Work on Impactful Game Features: You’ll have the invaluable opportunity to work on impactful game features that directly enhance gameplay experiences for millions of players. Your code will bring new functionalities and improvements to life within the Battle.net platform.
• Collaborative and Supportive Team Environment: You will join a highly collaborative and supportive team environment where teamwork is highly valued, and mutual assistance is encouraged. This fosters an atmosphere of open communication, knowledge sharing, and collective problem-solving.
• Chance to Work with Experienced Professionals: You’ll have the privilege of working with experienced engineers and product managers who are leaders in the gaming industry. This offers excellent mentorship opportunities and a chance to learn from seasoned experts.
• Hybrid Work Model for Flexibility: The role offers a hybrid work model, providing flexibility between remote and on-site work in Austin. This arrangement supports work-life balance while ensuring effective team collaboration and access to essential resources.
• Engagement in a Culture of Innovation: You’ll be actively engaged in a culture that values innovation and continuous improvement. Your ideas for optimizing systems, developing new features, and enhancing gaming experiences will be welcomed, contributing to a forward-thinking and evolving work environment.
• Potential for Extension or Conversion: This 6-month contract comes with the possibility of extension or conversion to a permanent role, offering a pathway for long-term career stability and growth within a prominent gaming company.

Upon completion of the waiting period, consultants are typically eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support their well-being and financial security. These include:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Plans: Comprehensive healthcare coverage for medical services and necessary prescription medications.
• Dental Plan: Benefits covering routine dental care and essential treatments.
• Vision Plan: Coverage for eye examinations, prescription glasses, and contact lenses.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): A tax-advantaged savings account to help pay for qualified medical expenses.
• Health Flexible Spending Account (HFSA): Allows pre-tax contributions for eligible healthcare costs.
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA): Provides tax advantages for dependent care expenses.
• Supplemental Life Insurance: Options for additional life insurance coverage for enhanced financial protection.
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance: Income replacement benefits during periods of temporary or prolonged incapacitation due to illness or injury.
• Business Travel Insurance: Coverage for unforeseen events or emergencies that may occur during authorized business travel.
• 401(k), Plus Match: An opportunity to save for retirement with the added benefit of employer matching contributions, enhancing your long-term financial growth.
• Weekly Pay: Consistent and regular compensation provided on a weekly basis, ensuring stable financial flow throughout your contract engagement.

If this Senior Software Engineer role in Austin, TX, aligns with your C++ development expertise, your passion for building large-scale distributed systems, and your interest in the gaming industry, we encourage you to learn more about this exciting hybrid contract opportunity. This is a fantastic chance to contribute to the core services of a leading gaming platform.

Are you ready to bring your engineering skills to enhance global gameplay experiences?