Job Description

Why PlayStation?PlayStation isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Today, we're recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStationxc2xae5, PlayStationxc2xae4, PlayStationxc2xaeVR, PlayStationxc2xaePlus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.Department Overview:The Gaming, Developer and Future Technology Group (GDFT) are PlayStation's technology experts. We research and develop innovative technologies that push the boundaries of play, helping game developers make the best games on PlayStation. Within GDFT is the SIE Connected Content Group, based in London, whose function is future feature prototype exploration & validation.Role Overview:You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, researching and implementing distributed systems and service architecture utilising a wide range of technologies.You will be developing proof-of-concepts, exploring impacts on game and platform feature development, supporting multiple research teams, and collaborating on new concepts.Our focus is always changing to experiment in new areas and with new ideas, so you will need a wide range of experience and a willingness to try new things. We expect you to be able to develop and apply distributed system frameworks, build prototypes, and understand network protocols and data analysis.What you'll be doing:

• Contributing to the design and architecture of distributed systems, exploring distributing game experiences and rendering across multiple devices, and exploring network infrastructure and enhancements to ensure scalability, reliability and efficiency.
• Participating in design reviews and ideation sessions, providing input on improvements, optimizations and new possibilities.
• Developing and implementing system components within game prototypes, extending game engines and networking/backend services.
• Proposing and prototyping novel & innovative solutions to complex problems.

What we are looking for:This is a mid-level role, but we are open to consider less experienced candidates that can demonstrate the below skills with a portfolio/github repo. You'll need to be passionate about video games and software design, and you'll need to have some (not all) of the following:

• Bachelor's-level degree in Computer Science or relevant games industry professional experience.
• Familiarity with game engine technologies (e.g. Unreal, Unity).
• Experience of performance optimization and parallel computing (e.g. non-uniform memory access).
• Strong technical background in game development, rendering or Computer Science.
• Familiarity with source control systems (e.g. git, Perforce).
• Deep root cause analysis skills - can derive a deep understanding of problems and clearly articulate and document proposed solutions.
• Strong communication skills.
• Be proactive in identifying and addressing issues and opportunities arising from your day to day activities.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and to innovate and produce new ideas and concepts without needing direct management.
• Be curious and willing to challenge the status-quo.

Nice to have:

• Experience with RDMA technologies, particularly open source technologies.
• Experience with networking programming.
• Experience with network infrastructure and technology, particularly in cloud systems.
• Experience with cloud rendering or 3D graphics.
• Familiarity with containerization (e.g. Docker), and orchestration (e.g. Kubernetes) systems.
• Familiarity with console title development and publishing processes.
• Fundamentals of system security.
• Experience of working with cross-functional teams.

Benefits of workWhat you'll be doing:Evaluating state-of-the-art research from our GDFT R&D teams, before productionising as a variety of cloud services, tools, plug-ins and applicationsCreating architecture, specifications and frameworks for use across multiple hardware and cloud architectures whilst considering the needs and requirements of other teams.Collaborating with engineers and teams in Production Engineering to deliver network enabled solutions and components that can be packaged and deployed within cloud architecturesCollaborating with the Project Management team and other engineers for planning, coordination and risk managementContinuously innovating, developing, and delivering advancements for existing projectsParticipate in code reviews and contribute to continuous improvement of the development processWhat we're looking for:This is a senior engineering role where you will be expected to apply your technical expertise to deliver complex projects, solve challenging technical problems, and contribute to the development of innovative solutions and key initiatives across the organization.You should have a strong track record of contributing to projects from start to finish, achieving meaningful outcomes, and making a positive impact on the products, systems, or processes you've worked on.Your ability to deliver high-quality work within established timelines and constraints is crucial.You should be able to articulate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely to various audiences, including technical and non-technical team members and stakeholders.You should have expertise in Go development and a strong passion for client and server technologies. Experience and interest to work across the stack, including C++/Python work is a plus.You'll need to be passionate about games, software and hardware design, staying updated with emerging technologies and industry trends, and showcasing your ability to adapt to new challenges and technologies.You'll need to have some (not all) of the following:Proficient in Golang, backed up with practical experience and portfolioAbility (and interest) to work across the stack, including C++/Python client workExperienced with web technologies and services, including HTML5, REST, JSON, JavaScript, Docker, Kubernetes, oauth etc.Experienced with Linux based servers, particularly those that run applications in DockerStrong experience with Amazon Web Services (AWS), or similar, certification or qualifications are desirableStrong technical background in maths or computer science, educated to at least degree level or with equivalent experienceAble to review, debug and enhance already produced codeAbility to work constructively as part of a larger teamAbility to work proactively on your ownGood presentation and communication skillsNice to haveExposure to cutting-edge Machine Learning and AI technologies, with a passion for exploring their impact on gaming and software developmentExperience in leading or participating in cross-functional teams and projects is also beneficialExperience with git / github / gitlab / SVN source controlExperience with testing methodology and frameworksExperience with continuous integration systems and pipelinesExperience of video and audio encoding and streamingExperience of observability tooling such as grafana, prometheus, opensearch and creating observable systemsKnowledge of Rust, Java, c#Knowledge of PlayStation hardware and SDKBenefits of working in Gaming, Developer and Future Technology:

• Opportunities to participate in global hackathons, and explore innovation opportunities
• Opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills by learning about the latest techniques in a team of experts with a wealth of industry experience
• Relaxed working environment with high level of trust and autonomy. All staff are encouraged to express their views and challenge the status quo

Benefits of working at PlayStation:

• Competitive salary
• Discretionary bonus opportunity
• Excellent in-house training opportunities
• BUPA Private Medical Insurance
• Dental Scheme
• 25 days holiday per year plus national holidays and wellness breaks
• Free eye test and glasses voucher
• Cycle to work scheme

Equal Opportunity Statement:Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

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