Lead Gameplay Engineer

Studio:
A stealth mode AAA developer/publisher. Renowned for creating exceptional gaming experiences, the studio is currently working on its first major title, a fully funded AAA project already several years into development, with several years remaining until release.
Location:
Remote
Project:
AAA open-world action-adventure co-op game to be released on all next-gen platforms.
Responsibilities:
Looking for a highly experienced and technically minded Lead Gameplay Engineer to spearhead the development of core gameplay systems that define the feel, fluidity, and depth of our upcoming co-operative experience. This is a key leadership position responsible for shaping how players interact with the game world, from character movement and traversal to responsive combat and engaging team mechanics. You'll lead a team of gameplay engineers while working closely with design, animation, and networking teams to ensure the systems you build are robust, scalable, and consistently fun, whether in solo or co-op play.
Architect, develop, and iterate on gameplay systems including movement, traversal, combat, targeting, camera logic, and player input responsiveness.
Design and implement engaging co-operative features such as synchronised player actions, revival mechanics, AI companions, and shared abilities.
Provide mentorship and technical direction to gameplay engineers, promoting clean code architecture and high development standards.
Lead code reviews, debugging workflows, and system diagnostics to support long-term stability and scalability.
Partner with designers and animators to rapidly prototype and refine responsive, intuitive gameplay mechanics.
Work alongside network and backend engineers to ensure multiplayer systems are performant, resilient, and seamless across a range of network conditions.
Optimise gameplay systems for both single-player and networked multiplayer environments.
Contribute to technical planning efforts, ensuring systems are modular and extensible to support future content and live service updates.
Skills and Qualifications:
Proven experience in a leadership or senior engineering role on at least one shipped AAA title, preferably in the action or combat genre.
Strong understanding of player systems, including control schemes, combat logic, and camera behaviour.
Experience building multiplayer or co-operative gameplay systems, including synchronisation and team-based mechanics.
Advanced proficiency in C++, with a deep understanding of real-time game development.
Significant experience with Unreal Engine, including Blueprint scripting and animation integration.
Skilled in performance profiling, debugging, and optimisation—especially in animation- and physics-heavy environments.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative approach to cross-functional teamwork.
Benefits:
Unlimited PTO
Full private healthcare & pensions
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