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Overview
The Sr. Lead Architect (Backend) is a senior individual contributor responsible for backend architecture across the Marketing Technology ecosystem. This role defines scalable technical patterns, guides implementation for shared platform services, and helps teams solve complex reliability, integration, and modernization challenges across web, identity, campaign, and service platforms.
This role is based in our Santa Monica, CA 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.
Key responsibilities
Define and evolve backend architecture for shared services, APIs, integrations, and cloud-hosted platforms, with strong emphasis on scalability, maintainability, and operational resilience.
Lead architecture and design reviews for major backend changes, service decomposition, shared libraries, and platform modernization efforts.
Establish engineering standards for backend development, including API design, service contracts, deployment patterns, observability, and operational readiness.
Partner closely with engineers and SREs to troubleshoot production and platform issues and drive durable fixes, not just tactical workarounds.
Design and improve reusable infrastructure and automation patterns across GCP and related workflows, including secrets management and service access patterns.
Mentor senior engineers and act as a technical escalation point on distributed systems, backend performance, and architectural tradeoffs.
Qualifications
10+ years of software engineering experience, including significant time in senior backend or architecture-focused roles.
Deep experience with Java or similar backend languages, microservices, APIs, distributed systems, and cloud-native architecture.
Strong working knowledge of containers, CI/CD, observability, and infrastructure/security patterns in modern cloud environments.
Ability to influence across multiple teams without direct authority and translate business needs into durable technical solutions.
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 experiences.
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.
We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.
Ready to Activate Your Future?
We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.
Rewards
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:
Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.
In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $146,000.00 - $270,004.00 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.