Job Summary

The IT Technician (Contractor) at Treyarch is a mission-critical support role within one of the world’s most iconic video game studios. Located in Vancouver, BC, you will be the “First Responder” for the developers, artists, and engineers behind the Call of Duty: Black Ops series. This role requires the “wit” to troubleshoot high-end creative software like Autodesk and Adobe CC and the “grit” to maintain 100% uptime in a high-octane, on-site studio environment.

Job Details

Employer: Treyarch (via Volt staffing).
Location: Vancouver, BC (100% On-site).
Pay Range: $63,700 – $134,600 CAD (Based on experience).
Status: 12-month Contingent Contract.
Core Focus: End-user support, hardware provisioning, and studio operations.

Key Responsibilities: The Studio Support Lifecycle

In a game studio, “IT” means supporting both standard corporate tools and specialized development hardware.

Workstation Provisioning: Imaging and deploying high-performance PCs tailored for game development.
Active Directory Management: Handling user permissions, group policies, and access requests to keep the studio secure.
Creative Software Support: Troubleshooting specialized suites like Autodesk (Maya/3ds Max) and Adobe Creative Cloud, ensuring artists aren’t blocked by technical glitches.
Hardware Orchestration: Beyond PCs and printers, you will manage and troubleshoot video game consoles (dev kits) used for testing.
Inventory & Asset Management: Tracking high-value IT assets to ensure the studio remains stocked and organized.
Project Contribution: Assisting on larger IT infrastructure projects as the Vancouver studio scales.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

The “Senior Tech”: 5+ years of professional IT support experience.
Gaming DNA: Familiarity with console hardware and Windows-heavy environments. Previous experience in a game studio is a major “plus.”
Technical Wit: Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and a solid understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP).
Communication Grit: A “friendly demeanor” is required to collaborate effectively with diverse teams under tight development deadlines.

Technical Insights: IT in Game Development

Supporting a AAA studio requires knowledge of how games are actually built.

PC Imaging (WDS/MDT): You will likely use Windows Deployment Services or similar tools to push multi-gigabyte OS images to powerful “Dev Boxes” equipped with high-end GPUs.
Remote vs. On-Site: Even though the role is on-site, you will support remote developers using tools like Slack, Zoom, and VPN configurations to ensure latency doesn’t impact their productivity.
Console Dev Kits: Unlike retail consoles, “Dev Kits” have extra RAM and specialized debugging ports. You will be responsible for their physical connectivity and network registration.

Diversity and The Vancouver Tech Scene

Vancouver is a global hub for game development, and Activision Blizzard is pushing for a more inclusive workforce.

Closing the Application Gap: Treyarch explicitly encourages women and under-represented groups to apply even if they don’t meet every single bullet point. Research shows that men apply when they meet 60% of qualifications, while women often wait until they meet 100%. Treyarch wants to bridge that gap.
Vancouver’s “Silicon Vineyard”: With over 170 game studios in BC, Vancouver offers a robust community for IT professionals specializing in the “M&E” (Media & Entertainment) sector.
Compensation Context: The wide salary range ($63k–$134k) reflects the difference between a Tier 1 Desktop Support tech and a Tier 3 System Administrator level contractor.

Job Description

Do you believe that the best games are built on the best infrastructure? Treyarch is seeking an IT Technician for our Vancouver team. We aren’t looking for a “ticket-closer”; we are looking for a technical partner who has the “grit” to resolve a hardware failure during a “crunch” period and the “wit” to optimize our imaging process for the next generation of developers. If you want to support the creators of Zombies and Black Ops, you belong here.

In this role, you are a “Development Enabler.” You understand that when an artist’s PC is down, the game stops moving forward. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Studio Support,” ensuring that our technology is as innovative as our gameplay. We look for “Enthusiastic-first” professionals who are collaborative, proactive, and ready to help us create moments that matter.

Joining Treyarch through Volt means working with a world-class team on a 12-month journey of innovation. We offer a competitive base pay and the chance to be part of a culture where every voice matters. If you are an IT professional with a commitment to “Gaming Excellence and Collaborative Support,” we invite you to apply and help us build the future of Call of Duty.

Activision (Vancouver): Engineering the Backbone of Play

Activision’s presence in Vancouver is defined by a culture of technical rigor, high-scale reliability, and collaborative “service-first” engineering. While many studios focus on the front-end artistry of games, the Vancouver hub—largely anchored by Demonware and Treyarch (Vancouver)—focuses on the “unseen” infrastructure that allows millions of players to connect simultaneously. The environment is fast-paced and high-stakes, characterized by a “work-hard, play-hard” energy where engineers tackle some of the most complex networking and security challenges in the global gaming industry.

In 2026, Vancouver serves as a vital strategic pillar for Activision’s technical operations and “Call of Duty” live services:

Demonware (The Online Engine): A member of the Activision family, Demonware provides the online services and data backends for AAA franchises like Call of Duty, Tony Hawk, and Diablo. Their Vancouver team is responsible for the “pipes” of the gaming world—matchmaking, leaderboards, and persistent player data.
Treyarch (Vancouver): This branch of the legendary Call of Duty developer focuses on specialized technical roles, including Sound Design and IT Operations. The studio follows an onsite-first model (typically four days per week), emphasizing that high-level collaboration is most effective when teams are in the same room.
Specialized Operational Pillars:
- Game Security Operations: Vancouver is a key center for the Associate Director of Game Security Operations, focusing on anti-cheat initiatives and protecting the integrity of online play.
- Technical Project Management: The culture relies on senior TPMs who manage the impact of scope and budget across global time zones, ensuring that Demonware’s roadmaps stay on track for massive seasonal game launches.
- IT & Desktop Support: A robust internal support team manages the high-performance hardware and imaging required for AAA game development, offering competitive salaries (often ranging from $63,000 to $141,000+ depending on the role).
“Activate Your Future”: Activision’s 2026 talent brand emphasizes People, Innovation, and Excellence. In Vancouver, this translates to a “welcoming and collaborative” studio environment that offers comprehensive benefits, including tuition reimbursement, relocation assistance, and “Early Careers” programs for Canadian university interns.
The Microsoft Synergy: Since the acquisition by Microsoft, the Vancouver teams benefit from being part of the larger Microsoft Gaming ecosystem while maintaining Activision’s distinct, results-driven publishing culture.

Working at Activision in Vancouver means being at the frontline of live-ops technology. Whether you are a Technical Sound Designer at Treyarch or a SRE (Site Reliability Engineer) at Demonware, the experience is defined by the unique challenge of supporting 100+ million active players and ensuring that “epic entertainment experiences” never go offline.

To apply for this job please visit careers.activision.com.