Core Engineer

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

Welcome to Maxis, home to tinkerers, craftspeople, & storytellers. We aim to inspire everyone to make a better world through creative play. As the developer of The Sims, we create games and experiences for millions of people around the world and are always looking for new ways to inspire our players. Maxis is a place where you can do what you love and help others grow while doing it, a place where your unique voice can be heard and seen. We put creativity and inclusivity at the core of our work and don't settle for seeing the world only as it is but strive to build a world as it could be.

As a Core Engineer, you will focus on developing foundational tech for game experiences, with an emphasis on engine and game client systems. Your work will span feature architecture, implementation, and performance optimization. Success in this role requires strong technical and problem‑solving skills, as well as the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with cross‑functional teams.

You will report to a Development Director as part of the project team.

Responsibilities

• Implement core features and systems in C++, extending existing systems and creating new ones
• Collaborate with designers, producers, content creators, and other engineers to develop game features and solve in‑game challenges
• Write technical design documents outlining software requirements
• Develop performant, memory efficient code for game client systems
• Debug, document, and resolve issues
• Apply software engineering best practices across the development lifecycle, including agile methodologies, coding standards, code reviews, source control, build processes, testing, and operations
• Partner with technical directors, engineering leads, and other engineers to improve game performance and scalability

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in a software engineering role
• Proficiency in modern C++
• Experience with Windows platforms and development tools (e.g., Visual Studio or other IDEs)
• Experience with performance tools and profilers (e.g., Unreal Insights, VTune, Razor GPU/CPU Profiler, or similar)
• Experience debugging and optimizing complex applications
• Experience using Perforce or Git‑based workflows for code management
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences and cross‑functional teams

Pluses

• Experience with commercial game engines
• Experience developing client‑side game systems across varied hardware or platform environments
• Experience working on large, data‑driven games or applications
• Experience using automation tools to improve code quality and workflows
• Familiarity with graphics libraries (e.g., DirectX, Vulkan, Metal)
• Familiarity with The Sims on PC, Mac, mobile, or consoles

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Transparency - North America

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

Pay Ranges

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top‑up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full‑time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.