Lead Game Engineer

📋 Description

• Collaborate closely with our Game Director, Project Director, Lead Producer, and other discipline leaders to oversee the engineering team across a range of technical domains.

• Assist in defining the game’s technical vision, guide the team through production challenges, and ensure that engineering efforts enhance the player experience we aim to create.

• Aid the team in grasping the technical aspects of significant ideas, negotiating trade-offs, identifying risks, and transforming creative aspirations into actionable engineering strategies.

• Take ownership of the game’s technical direction, contribute to defining architecture and implementation methods, and ensure engineering decisions align with the game’s overall trajectory.

• Provide clear guidance, constructive feedback, coaching, workload management, and career development support so that the team can excel without experiencing burnout.

• Remain hands-on where necessary by coding, reviewing, debugging, troubleshooting, and engaging in implementation when the team requires assistance.

• Collaborate with design, art, production, audio, narrative, and other teams to rigorously test features, identify technical requirements, and ensure innovative ideas can withstand practical development challenges.

• Identify risks early by recognizing technical issues, staffing shortages, pipeline challenges, scope limitations, and potential technical debt before they escalate into significant production obstacles.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 8 years of programming experience within the games industry, including at least one commercially successful PC or console title where you held a senior or lead programmer position.

• More than 4 years of experience as a programming lead, demonstrating proven technical, managerial, and leadership capabilities.

• A history of successfully leading strong engineering teams and addressing complex technical challenges across significant development areas.

• Expert knowledge of C++, robust skills in C#, and a demonstrated talent for technical design.

• Extensive expertise in Unreal Engine, including hands-on experience in building, debugging, implementing, and shipping projects within the engine.

• Experience in several key technical domains, such as core engine development, AI, networking, gameplay, and tools development.

• A solid understanding of the technical pipeline and the various processes essential for game development.

• Strong gameplay sensibilities, including an awareness of how engineering decisions impact the player experience.

• Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-disciplinary collaboration abilities.

• Strong leadership and team management skills, including the capacity to motivate, mentor, and assist engineers through genuine production challenges.

• A passion for creating and playing games, particularly immersive simulations or games centered on player agency, reactivity, exploration, and systemic problem-solving.

• A BS degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package available throughout the United States.

• Competitive salary.

• Occasional travel for important meetings.