Volley Inc.
Staff Software Engineer, Core Technology San Francisco, CA
Volley Inc., San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Staff Software Engineer, Core Technology
Role summary
Volley is a unique, fast-growing AI gaming company that is building both games and an underlying proprietary game engine. Our voice-controlled AI games reach millions of customers each month. We are actively working to reach millions more players by launching our games on new platforms such as Roku and Fire TV.The Core Technology team at Volley is looking for an enthusiastic engineer with deep expertise in building game engines, app platforms, or SDKs. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to develop a multi-platform game engine for voice-controlled AI games. As a Staff Engineer, you will be responsible for assessing the technical challenges of different TV operating systems and engineering innovative solutions to address them. You will also collaborate closely with game developers to understand their requirements and provide them with the necessary tools and capabilities to increase their velocity when building games.We’re a small and diverse team that delivers outsized impact through smart technical investments. We’re looking for someone who is curious, empathetic, and a creative problem solver. You will have significant impact and visibility across our organization, collaborating with company leadership and our product teams to understand business goals, driving technical decision-making on the Core Technology team, and setting a standard of excellence for the broader engineering organization.What you’ll do at Volley
Develop our multi-platform strategy and build toward our vision of a "write once, run anywhere” game engineDevelop game engine features, tools, and SDKs for core functionalities such as rendering, voice recognition, and animations, enabling our product engineers to build delightful voice-controlled game experiences for TVsWork with company leadership and our product teams to inform a tech strategy that aligns with our overall business strategySupport the organizational growth and development of the team through process improvements and mentorshipDive into production issues across multiple levels of our stack and use learnings to establish best practices for observability and stabilityDevelop and execute on quarterly and annual roadmaps while making effective tradeoffs that weigh business priorities, user experience requirements, and investments in foundational technologyCollaborate with UX experts, designers, and data analysts to power best-in-class voice-controlled gamesStuff you may have done beforeWorked on SDKs, game engines, or software platformsBuilt games, or consumer-facing mobile or web apps, at scaleWorked with audio, voice, AI, or other emerging technologiesBeen the primary technical decision-maker for a group of 20+ engineersDeveloped applications on smart TV platforms (e.g. Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV)Must-haves
10+ years of experience as a software engineerA passion for end-user experiences, code quality, design patterns, and architectureExamples of successfully advocating for technical investments that accelerated product developmentProven track record of learning new technologies and adapting to platform requirementsA strong background in mentoring junior engineersExcellent communication skills, both written and verbalStage 1 (Preliminary Video Call)
with a member of our Recruitment teamStage 2 (Behavioral Screen Video Call)
with one of our Engineering ManagersStage 3 (Technical Screen Video Call)
with one of our Senior EngineersStage 4 (Full-day Virtual “On-Site”)
with various partners and team membersStage 5 (Founder Chat)
with our FoundersStage 6 (Offer)What’s in it for you
Your medical, dental, and vision insurance is 100% covered by Volley, for yourself and all dependents and we match 401k!We offer a flexible, hybrid work-from-home and in-office work model.We offer 4 weeks of paid time off (enforced 2-week minimum), 16 paid holidays, 40 hours of bereavement leave, and unlimited sick days.Our generous parental leave policy includes 24 weeks at 100% pay for birthing parents and 12 weeks at 100% pay for non-birthing parents.We offer visa support for eligible candidates, making relocating for the job smoother and more streamlined.A full breakdown of our benefits is **here !**For Pay Transparency: The base salary range for this position is $189,477 - $260,531 annually, based on a local (San Francisco) hire. The final offer amount may depend on experience, education, skills, and location. Base pay is one part of the total package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.About Us
Volley
is the leading developer of AI-powered games for Amazon Alexa, Roku TVs, and mobile devices. Our games attract millions of users every month. Popular Volley games include
Song Quiz ,
Jeopardy! , and
The Price Is Right .We believe voice interfaces will become the main way people access entertainment in their living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and cars. We’re building a bundled subscription product similar to Netflix or Spotify for the emerging category of “AI-powered games.”Volley was founded by Max Child and James Wilsterman in 2016. We're headquartered in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. We’re a quickly growing team that truly enjoys working together. If you think you would enjoy creating joyful games on top of a rapidly evolving AI technology stack, please get in touch!Volley believes in an inclusive workplace and is committed to building a team from a variety of backgrounds. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive the other benefits and privileges of employment.Underrepresented candidates and candidates from nontraditional backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply!Apply for this job
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enter manuallyAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfAttach
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enter manuallyAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfLinkedIn Profile *WebsiteHow many years of professional coding experience do you have? *
Select...Are you currently living in/near the Bay Area or willing to work on-site at our Hayes Valley HQ for at least 2-3 days per week? *
Select...Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? *
Select...Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship? *
Select...What are your pronouns?How'd you find out about us?
*Volley WebsiteIndeedLinkedinOnline Job SearchReferral - FriendOtherIf "other" please specify:If you were referred, please let us know by who!What is the compensation range you are targeting for this role?Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.As set forth in Volley’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.Select...Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305Page 1 of 1OMB Control Number 1250-0005Expires 04/30/2026Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
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OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to:Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDSBlind or low visionCancer (past or present)Cardiovascular or heart diseaseCeliac diseaseCerebral palsyDeaf or serious difficulty hearingDiabetesDisfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disordersEpilepsy or other seizure disorderGastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndromeIntellectual or developmental disabilityMental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSDMissing limbs or partially missing limbsMobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supportsNervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilitiesPartial or complete paralysis (any cause)Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysemaShort stature (dwarfism)Traumatic brain injury
Disability Status
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PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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Role summary
Volley is a unique, fast-growing AI gaming company that is building both games and an underlying proprietary game engine. Our voice-controlled AI games reach millions of customers each month. We are actively working to reach millions more players by launching our games on new platforms such as Roku and Fire TV.The Core Technology team at Volley is looking for an enthusiastic engineer with deep expertise in building game engines, app platforms, or SDKs. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to develop a multi-platform game engine for voice-controlled AI games. As a Staff Engineer, you will be responsible for assessing the technical challenges of different TV operating systems and engineering innovative solutions to address them. You will also collaborate closely with game developers to understand their requirements and provide them with the necessary tools and capabilities to increase their velocity when building games.We’re a small and diverse team that delivers outsized impact through smart technical investments. We’re looking for someone who is curious, empathetic, and a creative problem solver. You will have significant impact and visibility across our organization, collaborating with company leadership and our product teams to understand business goals, driving technical decision-making on the Core Technology team, and setting a standard of excellence for the broader engineering organization.What you’ll do at Volley
Develop our multi-platform strategy and build toward our vision of a "write once, run anywhere” game engineDevelop game engine features, tools, and SDKs for core functionalities such as rendering, voice recognition, and animations, enabling our product engineers to build delightful voice-controlled game experiences for TVsWork with company leadership and our product teams to inform a tech strategy that aligns with our overall business strategySupport the organizational growth and development of the team through process improvements and mentorshipDive into production issues across multiple levels of our stack and use learnings to establish best practices for observability and stabilityDevelop and execute on quarterly and annual roadmaps while making effective tradeoffs that weigh business priorities, user experience requirements, and investments in foundational technologyCollaborate with UX experts, designers, and data analysts to power best-in-class voice-controlled gamesStuff you may have done beforeWorked on SDKs, game engines, or software platformsBuilt games, or consumer-facing mobile or web apps, at scaleWorked with audio, voice, AI, or other emerging technologiesBeen the primary technical decision-maker for a group of 20+ engineersDeveloped applications on smart TV platforms (e.g. Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV)Must-haves
10+ years of experience as a software engineerA passion for end-user experiences, code quality, design patterns, and architectureExamples of successfully advocating for technical investments that accelerated product developmentProven track record of learning new technologies and adapting to platform requirementsA strong background in mentoring junior engineersExcellent communication skills, both written and verbalStage 1 (Preliminary Video Call)
with a member of our Recruitment teamStage 2 (Behavioral Screen Video Call)
with one of our Engineering ManagersStage 3 (Technical Screen Video Call)
with one of our Senior EngineersStage 4 (Full-day Virtual “On-Site”)
with various partners and team membersStage 5 (Founder Chat)
with our FoundersStage 6 (Offer)What’s in it for you
Your medical, dental, and vision insurance is 100% covered by Volley, for yourself and all dependents and we match 401k!We offer a flexible, hybrid work-from-home and in-office work model.We offer 4 weeks of paid time off (enforced 2-week minimum), 16 paid holidays, 40 hours of bereavement leave, and unlimited sick days.Our generous parental leave policy includes 24 weeks at 100% pay for birthing parents and 12 weeks at 100% pay for non-birthing parents.We offer visa support for eligible candidates, making relocating for the job smoother and more streamlined.A full breakdown of our benefits is **here !**For Pay Transparency: The base salary range for this position is $189,477 - $260,531 annually, based on a local (San Francisco) hire. The final offer amount may depend on experience, education, skills, and location. Base pay is one part of the total package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work.About Us
Volley
is the leading developer of AI-powered games for Amazon Alexa, Roku TVs, and mobile devices. Our games attract millions of users every month. Popular Volley games include
Song Quiz ,
Jeopardy! , and
The Price Is Right .We believe voice interfaces will become the main way people access entertainment in their living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and cars. We’re building a bundled subscription product similar to Netflix or Spotify for the emerging category of “AI-powered games.”Volley was founded by Max Child and James Wilsterman in 2016. We're headquartered in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. We’re a quickly growing team that truly enjoys working together. If you think you would enjoy creating joyful games on top of a rapidly evolving AI technology stack, please get in touch!Volley believes in an inclusive workplace and is committed to building a team from a variety of backgrounds. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive the other benefits and privileges of employment.Underrepresented candidates and candidates from nontraditional backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply!Apply for this job
*indicates a required fieldFirst Name *Last Name *Email *PhoneResume/CV *Attach
,
or
enter manuallyAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfAttach
,
or
enter manuallyAccepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtfLinkedIn Profile *WebsiteHow many years of professional coding experience do you have? *
Select...Are you currently living in/near the Bay Area or willing to work on-site at our Hayes Valley HQ for at least 2-3 days per week? *
Select...Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? *
Select...Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship? *
Select...What are your pronouns?How'd you find out about us?
*Volley WebsiteIndeedLinkedinOnline Job SearchReferral - FriendOtherIf "other" please specify:If you were referred, please let us know by who!What is the compensation range you are targeting for this role?Voluntary Self-Identification
For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.As set forth in Volley’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.Select...Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305Page 1 of 1OMB Control Number 1250-0005Expires 04/30/2026Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.
Disabilities include, but are not limited to:Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDSBlind or low visionCancer (past or present)Cardiovascular or heart diseaseCeliac diseaseCerebral palsyDeaf or serious difficulty hearingDiabetesDisfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disordersEpilepsy or other seizure disorderGastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndromeIntellectual or developmental disabilityMental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSDMissing limbs or partially missing limbsMobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supportsNervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilitiesPartial or complete paralysis (any cause)Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysemaShort stature (dwarfism)Traumatic brain injury
Disability Status
Select...
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
#J-18808-Ljbffr