The Role
Design and build the C++ integration layer for TV audio/video playback, integrate with native media frameworks (AVPlayer/ExoPlayer), own buffering/ABR/A-V sync, debug performance across OS and hardware, improve tooling and observability, and collaborate with platform and device teams to raise playback quality.
Summary Generated by Built In
We design Spotify’s consumer experience—end to end, moment to moment, across every screen, platform, and partner integration. Our mission is to make listening feel effortless, personal, and joyful for billions of users around the world. That means turning complexity into clarity across hundreds of touchpoints—from our mobile and desktop apps to the smart speakers, TVs, cars, and integrations where Spotify shows up every day. If it touches a consumer, we shape it. We bring deep insight into human behavior, design, and technology to craft experiences that feel intuitive, expressive, and unmistakably Spotify.
At Spotify, we’re building the best way to experience audio and video — everywhere, every time. As listening and watching on TV continues to grow, we’re investing deeply in native, video-first playback experiences that are fast, reliable, and feel effortless.
The Native Playback team sits at the heart of Spotify’s TV strategy. We integrate Spotify’s playback experience with the native players and media frameworks available on each platform. Our work happens close to the system — where performance, reliability, and quality truly matter — and directly impacts how millions of people experience Spotify every day.
What You'll Do
- Design, build, and evolve the C++ integration layer that powers Spotify’s audio and video playback on TV devices running our new Rust runtime
- Integrate Spotify’s playback experience with platform-native media frameworks such as AVPlayer, ExoPlayer, or equivalent TV player stacks
- Own critical playback areas including buffering strategies, playback state handling, A/V synchronization, adaptive bitrate configuration, track selection, and rendering paths
- Debug complex performance and reliability issues across multiple layers — from application logic to OS-level frameworks and hardware acceleration
- Partner closely with Playback platform teams and device teams to ensure shared APIs and designs translate cleanly into real-world TV implementations
- Improve test coverage, tooling, and observability to detect regressions and speed up iteration cycles
- Contribute to thoughtful technical design discussions and raise the bar for playback quality through code reviews and knowledge sharing
Who You Are
- You have strong of experience building low-level systems in C++, ideally within video, media, or playback domains
- You have hands-on experience integrating native playback frameworks such as AVPlayer, ExoPlayer, vendor SDKs, or similar media stacks
- You have a deep understanding of video playback fundamentals including codecs, streaming formats, adaptive bitrate (ABR), buffering behavior, and A/V synchronization trade-offs
- You are comfortable working close to the OS and media framework layer and diagnosing issues that span multiple system boundaries
- You have experience contributing to the design and evolution of scalable technical systems across platforms
- You are confident debugging performance and reliability issues using logs, traces, profilers, and system diagnostics tools
- You collaborate effectively across teams and communicate technical trade-offs clearly
- You care deeply about delivering reliable, high-quality playback experiences for millions of users
Where You'll Be
- This role is based in London or Stockholm.
- We offer you the flexibility to work where you work best. While some in-person collaboration is expected, you’ll also have the option to work from home.
Skills Required
- Strong experience building low-level systems in C++ within video, media, or playback domains
- Hands-on experience integrating native playback frameworks such as AVPlayer, ExoPlayer, or vendor media SDKs
- Deep understanding of video playback fundamentals including codecs, streaming formats, adaptive bitrate (ABR), buffering behavior, and A/V synchronization
- Comfortable working close to OS and media framework layers and diagnosing cross-boundary system issues
- Experience contributing to the design and evolution of scalable technical systems across platforms
- Proven ability to debug performance and reliability issues using logs, traces, profilers, and system diagnostics tools
- Effective collaboration across teams and clear communication of technical trade-offs
- Commitment to delivering reliable, high-quality playback experiences at scale
Spotify Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Spotify and has not been reviewed or approved by Spotify.
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Flexible Benefits — Employees consistently praise the total compensation package beyond base salary, highlighting a mix of RSUs, cash incentives, and stipends alongside core pay. The package is described as flexible and customizable through equity choices (e.g., RSUs, options, cash) that can be tailored for long-term wealth building.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off offerings are repeatedly highlighted as substantial, including generous vacation, paid sick days, volunteer time, and flexible holidays. These policies are framed as a meaningful part of the overall rewards experience beyond salary.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is portrayed as comprehensive, spanning medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, and mental health support. Additional employer contributions to HSAs are cited as strengthening the overall health and wellness value proposition.
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The Company
What We Do
Spotify transformed music listening forever when it launched in Sweden in 2008. Discover, manage and share over 50m tracks for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features including offline mode, improved sound quality, and an ad-free music listening experience.
