Senior Systems Programmer: Engine & Performance

Overview

Come join Bethesda Game Studios
, the award‑winning development team behind Starfield
, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout
. Bethesda Game Studios strives to offer its employees a balanced home and work life by providing competitive salaries and a generous benefits program.

We welcome applicants with unique skillsets and backgrounds. If you are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to some of the most significant games in the industry, we’d love to hear from you.

• Write clear, maintainable, highly functional C++ code.
• Understand the engine architecture, engine API, and foundational systems.
• Contribute to multi-disciplinary development of cutting‑edge technologies (architecture, design, prototype, implementation, tests, debugging, documentation, profiling, maintenance, support).
• Document and deliver stable, scalable systems for multiple platforms, memory‑ and performance‑constrained environments, data modeling for open‑world simulation, streaming, persistence, middleware integration, and C++.
• Profile and direct CPU optimization efforts for engine systems and the game frame in a highly multithreaded environment.
• Write technical plans, estimate schedules accurately, and help production with roadmaps and planning.
• Collaborate with developers from multiple disciplines, artists, and designers, understanding feature requests, cross‑feature dependencies, and communicating constraints and risks.
• Review code, provide technical guidance, and coach team members on tech impacting graphics systems.
• Continuously learn new technologies and assess how they could benefit the current stack.
• Tackle a variety of systems, from entire systems to random tasks.
• Support and maintain existing systems.

• At least 4 years of game‑industry C++ development experience with a minimum of 3 years engine experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or equivalent experience.
• High agency and goal‑driven approach to problem solving.
• Expertise in C++ and large‑scale, complex, multithreaded engine systems.
• Expertise in writing systems that balance performance and maintainability.
• Expertise in CPU profiling and optimization.
• Enjoy jumping into diverse systems, from whole systems to random tasks.
• Excellent analytical and mathematical skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and problem‑solving ability.
• Ability to contribute innovative and original ideas to all aspects of game production.
• Capable of working well under pressure, handling multiple tasks, and switching contexts.
• Passion for making great games.
• Strong familiarity with Bethesda Game Studios games.
• Self‑motivated, energetic team player with a strong work ethic.

• Experience with animation, 3D graphics, audio, AI, or gameplay programming tools.
• Development experience on game consoles (Xbox One/Series, PS4/PS5).
• Familiarity with Bethesda Game Studios’ Creation Kit.

The typical base pay range for this Systems Programmer position is $80,000–$175,000 per year, varying by location. Base pay is reviewed annually; additional rewards may include merit increases and discretionary bonuses.

U.S.

-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan with company match, short‑term and long‑term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation time, paid sick and mental health time, and several paid holidays.