Senior Lead Software Engineer - Automation

Who We Are

2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of the most influential game development studios in the world. Our studios responsible for developing 2K’s portfolio of world-class games across multiple platforms, include Visual Concepts, Firaxis, Hangar 13, CatDaddy, Cloud Chamber, 31st Union, HB Studios, and 2K SportsLab. Our portfolio of titles is expanding due to our global strategic plan, building and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire all of us! 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment.

Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers and doers, are the professional publishing stewards of 2K’s portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA®️ 2K, renowned BioShock®️, Borderlands®️, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization®️ and XCOM®️ brands; popular WWE®️ 2K and WWE®️ SuperCard franchises, TopSpin 2K25, as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR®️ 2K

At 2K, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive work environment, which means encouraging our teams to Come as You Are and do your best work! We encourage ALL applicants to explore our global positions, even if they don’t meet every requirement for the role. If you're interested in the job and think you have what it takes to work at 2K, we encourage you to apply!

What We Need

As a “Senior Lead Software Engineer - Automation” within Shared Development Services’ Automation team, you will serve as domain owner for automation strategies that power 2K’s global game production. This role blends high-level architectural design with strategic hands-on implementation. You will solve sophisticated, cross-team automation challenges that impact multiple projects and studios. The software frameworks you help create and integrate will accelerate iteration speed and tighten feedback loops for game developers, while ensuring we meet players’ ever-rising quality expectations. You will lead through hands-on collaboration—mentoring engineers, guiding technical decisions, and working side by side with both game developer and Publishing technology teams.

Additionally, you will partner with the Sr. Director of Automation Engineering to define the multi-year roadmap for the central Automation team. Our strategy is to transform workflows across 2K through the integration of intelligent tooling and emerging technologies. Your expertise will be key in shaping that strategy.

This position is a fit for a visionary engineer who is deeply committed to the craft of software development and possesses the technical breadth to influence the software delivery lifecycle across a premier portfolio of AAA games. Extra points for engineers who've demonstrated real initiative in incorporating LLM features into working software.

What You’ll Do

• Automation Architecture -Architect and evolve the core automation frameworks that underpin game verification across multiple studios, with a focus on scalability, performance, and long-term maintainability.

• Workflow Improvement - Identify and deliver meaningful improvements to developer workflows, including the practical application of LLM-based and generative tooling, to reduce iteration time and improve automated testing outcomes.

• Pipeline Strategy - Define the long-term technical roadmap for complex CI/CD environments, ensuring system reliability, observability, and high-concurrency stability across a global studio footprint.

• Technical Mentorship - Raise the technical bar through hands-on mentorship, providing thoughtful code review, design guidance, and problem-solving support while working closely with engineers on the team.

• Studio Partnership - Build trust with partner studios by engaging with their leadership to understand their needs, and building self-service software frameworks that meet those needs

What Will Make You A Great Fit

• Extensive Engineering Experience - 8+ years of professional software engineering experience brought to bear to build and evolve large-scale tools, platforms, or infrastructure used by multiple teams.

• Strong Language Proficiency - Deep expertise in at least one modern compiled language (e.g., C#, C++, Go, Rust, Java). Broad fluency with scripting languages such as Python and Bash.

• Delivery Systems Expertise - Depth and breadth across game development delivery systems. Key systems include CI/CD pipelines, asset management, build orchestration, test automation, source control workflows, release automation, etc.

• End-to-End Game Production Experience: Hands-on experience supporting game team. Experience across multiple stages of development, from early prototyping through production, shipping, and live operations.

• Applied AI Curiosity - Demonstrated interest in using LLM-based or AI-assisted tools to improve engineering workflows, with a pragmatic focus on real productivity and quality gains.

• Cross-Team Enablement - A history of supporting shared tools from within a central technical team. Skill engaging directly with technical and non-technical users to gather requirements, co-develop solutions, and build rapport

Beneficial Qualifications

• In-Engine Feature Development - Core game-dev experience, (e.g, Gameplay, Systems, Graphics, Physics, etc)

• Unreal Engine - Experience with Unreal Engine and the Unreal ecosystem (e.g., Blueprints, Horde, Gauntlet, UBA, etc.)

• Cloud Infrastructure - Practical experience managing distributed build environments and scalable test execution on cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure, etc.)

• Performance Automation - Experience with performance profiling, memory analysis, and the automated detection of performance regressions

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $163,400 and $241,820 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.If hired, employee will be in an ~at-will position~ and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.