Staff Software Engineer - Video Performance (C++)

TL;DR

Staff Software Engineer (C++/Video Performance): Leading end-to-end performance strategy for the video creation lifecycle with an accent on the C++ native engine and hardware acceleration. Focus on optimizing critical paths in shaders and ML-powered pipelines to reduce latency and memory footprint across Web, iOS, and Android.

Location: Must be based in the Bay Area (San Francisco, CA)

Salary: $251,000 – $329,000

Company

Canva is a global design platform redefining how the world experiences design through an interdisciplinary team of rendering engineers and AI researchers.

What you will do

• Lead end-to-end performance strategy for video creation, from timeline scrubbing and real-time preview to export and rendering.
• Profile and optimize critical paths in the C++ native engine, GLSL/HLSL shaders, and ML-powered effect pipelines.
• Design and build observability systems, including internal profiling tools and automated regression suites for FPS and memory usage.
• Leverage hardware acceleration using platform-specific APIs such as Metal, Vulkan, and WebGPU.
• Collaborate with Video Engine and AI engineers to evolve system architecture for improved parallelism and cache locality.

Requirements

• Must be based in the Bay Area.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and experience optimizing complex, multi-threaded systems.
• Deep understanding of CPU/GPU architectures, memory hierarchies, and SIMD.
• Experience with graphics APIs like OpenGL, Metal, or Vulkan.
• Expertise in video codecs (H.264/5, VP9, AV1) and multimedia fundamentals.
• Fluency with profiling tools such as Perf, Instruments, Chrome DevTools, or Systrace.

Nice to have

• Experience with modern systems languages such as Rust.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity packages to share in company success.
• Comprehensive health benefits and a 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution.
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers.
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup.
• Flexible leave options to recharge and support personal needs.