Senior Gameplay Engineer

Who We Are:

Founded by Greg Street who has led AAA teams for over 20 years, our new studio Fantastic Pixel Castle (FPC) is building an original fantasy IP from scratch. Players will be regularly engaged in our development process from early stages as part of our open and transparent studio culture, and we aim to craft an IP that will be worthy of their passion and dedication for decades to come.

We are committed to being a fully remote and global studio, so that we can hire world-class people and have them live their best lives. We think top-heavy bureaucracy stifles creativity, so we aim to stay small as we focus on delivering a game and a world that you will love. We are fully-funded, and the team will share in all of our studio's successes.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Gameplay Engineer to join our talented team of game developers. As a Senior Gameplay Engineer, you will architect and build the gameplay systems for our AAA MMO, driving the exploration and refinement of innovative gameplay mechanics, features, and systems. This is a senior-level position where you will have a significant impact on the creative process and contribute to shaping the gameplay experience of our next-generation title.

Responsibilities:

• Develop Gameplay Systems: Design and write long-term gameplay systems to enable designers, artists and other content creators to build gameplay experiences.
• Prototyping Leadership: Lead prototyping efforts for our game, collaborating closely with game designers, artists, and other engineers to create and iterate on compelling gameplay mechanics, systems, and features during the prototyping phase.
• Technical Excellence: Demonstrate exceptional technical skills and expertise in game development to design and implement gameplay systems that push the boundaries of what is possible within our game projects.
• Innovation and Exploration: Drive the exploration of new gameplay ideas, emerging technologies, and innovative mechanics to enhance player experiences and differentiate our games in the competitive AAA market.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with design, art, and engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of prototyped features into the game's development pipeline, fostering a culture of collaboration and creativity.
• Technical Guidance: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior prototyping engineers, sharing best practices, and facilitating their professional growth within the team.
• Documentation and Communication: Document and communicate technical specifications, limitations, and best practices related to prototyped gameplay mechanics and systems, ensuring effective knowledge transfer within the team.

Requirements:

• 7+ years of experience in video game development, with a strong focus on AAA games.
• Proven experience leading gameplay engineering efforts for complex gameplay mechanics, systems, and features in AAA game development.
• Expert proficiency in C++ including knowledge of optimization techniques and performance profiling tools for identifying and addressing performance issues.
• Deep understanding of game development principles, including gameplay mechanics, physics, AI, and user interfaces.
• Ability to prototype and the develop subsequent production systems using Unreal.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement high-quality prototypes that showcase innovative and engaging gameplay experiences.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to translate abstract design concepts into functional prototypes.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively work with multidisciplinary teams and influence decision-making processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the MMO field (including non-traditional modern MMOs).
• Familiarity with multiplayer systems and online gameplay considerations.
• Experience mentoring and providing technical guidance to junior engineers in a prototyping context.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating successful game projects or personal contributions to open-source game development initiatives.

US Salary Band: $160,000 - 220,000 USD