Senior Software Engineer - TV Playback
Build and evolve low-level C++ playback integrations for Spotify’s native TV experiences, working with platform media frameworks and video playback systems. The role requires expertise in codecs, adaptive bitrate streaming, buffering, synchronization, and cross-layer performance debugging.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and evolve the C++ integration layer powering audio and video playback on TV devices running a new Rust runtime.
- Integrate playback with platform-native media frameworks such as AVPlayer, ExoPlayer, or equivalent TV player stacks.
- Own buffering strategies, playback state handling, A/V synchronization, adaptive bitrate configuration, track selection, and rendering paths.
- Debug complex performance and reliability issues across application logic, OS-level frameworks, and hardware acceleration layers.
- Partner with playback platform and device teams to translate shared APIs and designs into real-world TV implementations.
- Improve test coverage, tooling, and observability to detect regressions and accelerate iteration.
- Contribute to technical design discussions, code reviews, and knowledge sharing.
Requirements
- Strong experience building low-level systems in C++, ideally in video, media, or playback domains.
- Hands-on experience integrating native playback frameworks such as AVPlayer, ExoPlayer, vendor SDKs, or similar media stacks.
- Deep understanding of video playback fundamentals, including codecs, streaming formats, adaptive bitrate (ABR), buffering behavior, and A/V synchronization.
- Comfort working close to operating-system and media-framework layers and diagnosing issues across system boundaries.
- Experience contributing to scalable technical systems across platforms.
- Confidence debugging performance and reliability issues using logs, traces, profilers, and system diagnostic tools.
- Effective cross-team collaboration and clear communication of technical trade-offs.
- Commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality playback experiences.
Work Arrangement
- Based in London or Stockholm.
- Hybrid work with expected in-person collaboration and the option to work from home.
Skills
C++, Rust, Avplayer, Exoplayer, Video Codecs, Adaptive Bitrate, Buffering, A/V Synchronization, Streaming Formats, Vendor Sdks, Logs, Traces, Profilers, Hardware Acceleration
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