Principal Systems Programmer – Dead By Daylight
About the role
The role
Are you ready to dive into the world of cutting-edge video game development? Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour Interactive is at the forefront of the gaming industry, crafting unforgettable experiences across PC, console, and mobile platforms. We’re a dynamic, independent studio of over 1200 passionate employees, with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Rotterdam (Behaviour Rotterdam) and in the UK (Behaviour UK–North & South). Our day to day revolves around two core business focuses: Services and Original Games. Our Services team collaborates with gaming and entertainment giants like Disney, Sony, Activision, and Nintendo, delivering exceptional work-for-hire development and pioneering immersive location-based entertainment (LBE). Meanwhile, our Original Games unit pushes our creative limits, with our signature IPs, including the iconic Dead by Daylight. Join us and be a part of the future of interactive entertainment!
At Behaviour Interactive, we believe in giving everyone a fair shot. We embrace a diverse and creative environment where everyone is celebrated. We value folks of all ages, sex, ethnicity, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, civil status, disability, or any other protected characteristics as per applicable law.
As a Principal Systems Programmer on Dead by Daylight , you will play a key role in shaping the technical foundation of one of the world's leading live multiplayer games. You'll provide technical leadership on complex systems, driving scalable, high-performance solutions that support both the development team and millions of players worldwide.
Working closely with Technical Directors, programmers, and cross-disciplinary teams, you'll influence the technical direction of the project, solve challenging technical problems, and establish best practices that elevate the quality, performance, and maintainability of the game's systems. Your expertise will help ensure Dead by Daylight continues to evolve while remaining stable, performant, and ready for future growth.
In this role you will
Architect, develop, refactor, and optimize scalable C++ systems that power Dead by Daylight, ranging from engine improvements to platform-specific implementations and developer tools. Lead complex technical initiatives while profiling, identifying, and resolving performance, memory, and stability issues to ensure the game remains optimized as it continues to evolve. Investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve bugs introduced through ongoing feature development, helping maintain the quality and reliability of a large-scale live service game. Ensure new features, improvements, and fixes are delivered consistently across all supported platforms, from PC to current and previous-generation consoles. Collaborate with Technical Directors and cross-disciplinary teams to align technical solutions with the project's technical vision. Mentor programmers, promote programming best practices, and contribute to technical decision-making across the project.
What we're looking for
15+ years of experience in game development, with a proven track record of designing and delivering high-quality, scalable systems for shipped AA/AAA titles games. Expert-level proficiency in C++, with deep knowledge of software architecture, performance optimization, multithreading, memory management, and debugging. 2+ years of recent experience working with Unreal Engine. A true generalist who is comfortable tackling a wide variety of technical challenges, leading complex initiatives, and driving programming excellence across multiple systems. Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to mentor programmers, influence technical direction, and work effectively with cross-disciplinary teams. Multiplayer/live service game experience is a strong asset.
Not the right fit? Search for Systems Programmer jobs in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
About Behaviour Interactive
Behaviour Interactive is the largest Canadian gaming studio, with more than 1,300 employees worldwide. Behaviour is best known for its flagship franchise, the multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight™, which has entertained over 60 million players across multiple platforms. The studio is currently expanding its portfolio of original IP with multiple projects. Behaviour has also established itself as one of the world’s foremost providers of external development services. The company has partnered with many of the gaming industry’s leaders, including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner, Netflix, and Take-Two, among many others. Over 30 years, Behaviour has developed an unparalleled, award-winning culture. The company was named one of the Best Places To Work in Canada by GamesIndustry.biz, and has been recognized with Deloitte Canada’s Enterprise Fast 15 and Best Managed Company awards. Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour has expanded its global presence with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Seattle (Midwinter Entertainment), and the United Kingdom (Behaviour UK – North and Behaviour UK – South) and in Rotterdam (Behaviour Rotterdam). For more information, visit www.bhvr.com.
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Principal Systems Programmer – Dead By Daylight
About the role
The role
Are you ready to dive into the world of cutting-edge video game development? Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour Interactive is at the forefront of the gaming industry, crafting unforgettable experiences across PC, console, and mobile platforms. We’re a dynamic, independent studio of over 1200 passionate employees, with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Rotterdam (Behaviour Rotterdam) and in the UK (Behaviour UK–North & South). Our day to day revolves around two core business focuses: Services and Original Games. Our Services team collaborates with gaming and entertainment giants like Disney, Sony, Activision, and Nintendo, delivering exceptional work-for-hire development and pioneering immersive location-based entertainment (LBE). Meanwhile, our Original Games unit pushes our creative limits, with our signature IPs, including the iconic Dead by Daylight. Join us and be a part of the future of interactive entertainment!
At Behaviour Interactive, we believe in giving everyone a fair shot. We embrace a diverse and creative environment where everyone is celebrated. We value folks of all ages, sex, ethnicity, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, civil status, disability, or any other protected characteristics as per applicable law.
As a Principal Systems Programmer on Dead by Daylight , you will play a key role in shaping the technical foundation of one of the world's leading live multiplayer games. You'll provide technical leadership on complex systems, driving scalable, high-performance solutions that support both the development team and millions of players worldwide.
Working closely with Technical Directors, programmers, and cross-disciplinary teams, you'll influence the technical direction of the project, solve challenging technical problems, and establish best practices that elevate the quality, performance, and maintainability of the game's systems. Your expertise will help ensure Dead by Daylight continues to evolve while remaining stable, performant, and ready for future growth.
In this role you will
Architect, develop, refactor, and optimize scalable C++ systems that power Dead by Daylight, ranging from engine improvements to platform-specific implementations and developer tools. Lead complex technical initiatives while profiling, identifying, and resolving performance, memory, and stability issues to ensure the game remains optimized as it continues to evolve. Investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve bugs introduced through ongoing feature development, helping maintain the quality and reliability of a large-scale live service game. Ensure new features, improvements, and fixes are delivered consistently across all supported platforms, from PC to current and previous-generation consoles. Collaborate with Technical Directors and cross-disciplinary teams to align technical solutions with the project's technical vision. Mentor programmers, promote programming best practices, and contribute to technical decision-making across the project.
What we're looking for
15+ years of experience in game development, with a proven track record of designing and delivering high-quality, scalable systems for shipped AA/AAA titles games. Expert-level proficiency in C++, with deep knowledge of software architecture, performance optimization, multithreading, memory management, and debugging. 2+ years of recent experience working with Unreal Engine. A true generalist who is comfortable tackling a wide variety of technical challenges, leading complex initiatives, and driving programming excellence across multiple systems. Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to mentor programmers, influence technical direction, and work effectively with cross-disciplinary teams. Multiplayer/live service game experience is a strong asset.
Not the right fit? Search for Systems Programmer jobs in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
About Behaviour Interactive
Behaviour Interactive is the largest Canadian gaming studio, with more than 1,300 employees worldwide. Behaviour is best known for its flagship franchise, the multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight™, which has entertained over 60 million players across multiple platforms. The studio is currently expanding its portfolio of original IP with multiple projects. Behaviour has also established itself as one of the world’s foremost providers of external development services. The company has partnered with many of the gaming industry’s leaders, including Microsoft, Sony, EA, Warner, Netflix, and Take-Two, among many others. Over 30 years, Behaviour has developed an unparalleled, award-winning culture. The company was named one of the Best Places To Work in Canada by GamesIndustry.biz, and has been recognized with Deloitte Canada’s Enterprise Fast 15 and Best Managed Company awards. Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour has expanded its global presence with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Seattle (Midwinter Entertainment), and the United Kingdom (Behaviour UK – North and Behaviour UK – South) and in Rotterdam (Behaviour Rotterdam). For more information, visit www.bhvr.com.