Software Engineer, Data Activation & Products

We are looking for a talented Senior Software Engineer to join the Data Activation & Products team! You will help set the software engineering standards for our team, build internal applications, and bring production-grade engineering rigor to our data platforms and pipelines.

This role emphasizes application engineering: building dependable internal tools, backend platforms, and service layers that interface directly with a wide web of upstream game telemetry, cloud infrastructure, event streams, and internal microservices. You will design and operate functional, scalable, and high-availability systems that streamline data access, power decisioning, and support player messaging initiatives across Activision’s industry-leading titles.

This role is based in our Santa Monica (Pen Factory) office and follows an onsite work schedule of Monday through Thursday. Work arrangements may change at the company’s discretion to meet business needs.

What You’ll Do

• Set Engineering Standards: Lead through hands-on development, thoughtful code reviews, and discipline leading work - making robust design, automated testing, CI/CD, and clear documentation part of everyday work.
• Application Development: Design and build production-grade internal applications, web tools, and backend services that make people’s lives better.
• Service & Data Integrations: Build robust integration layers and consumers connecting diverse services (Kafka streams, relational databases, NoSQL stores, cloud storage, and internal platform APIs).
• Data Layer Architecture: Manage application state and data access efficiently across mixed storage technologies (e.g., PostgreSQL, Redis, Bigtable), ensuring low latency and data integrity.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with product, design, engineers, analysts, and marketing to translate loosely defined needs into useful software, delivering iteratively as priorities shift.
• Production Ownership: Own what you build in production, troubleshoot issues, and continuously improve system performance, availability, and reliability over time.
• Evolve Architecture: Use modern tooling to accelerate prototyping, implementation, testing, and debugging, while maintaining accountability for the quality of production software.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of engineering and product work.
• Strong backend programming proficiency, with Python as the primary language.
• Proven experience in API design, integration, and performance tuning.
• Strong SQL skills and hands-on experience with both relational and NoSQL databases.
• Practical experience integrating with streaming architecture (Kafka, Pub/Sub).
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms (GCP or Azure) and container workflows (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Solid foundation in standard software engineering practices, including automated testing, CI/CD, and system monitoring.
• Practical experience using AI-assisted development tools effectively, with technical judgment to evaluate, test, and challenge outputs.
• A curious self-starter with strong analytical problem-solving skills, ability to work independently, learn quickly, and collaborate across teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience building full-stack internal tooling using modern frontend frameworks (e.g., React, TypeScript).
• Hands-on experience with Django, FastAPI, or Spring Boot.
• Knowledge of Databricks.
• A genuine curiosity and desire to stay abreast of modern technology changes.

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.

We’re headquartered in Santa Monica, California, housing multiple teams across many subject areas of Marketing, PR, Sales, Supply Chain, and corporate functions such as HR, IT, Legal, Facilities, and Finance. Santa Monica is the nerve center of our company, where the best ideas combine with unrivaled rigor to create the biggest and best entertainment experiences in the world.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together!

We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot , Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater , and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experience.

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization