Principal Game Engineer (Unreal Engine)

TL;DR

Principal Game Engineer (Unreal Engine/C++): Designing and implementing high-quality gameplay, UI, and 3Cs systems for AAA partner projects with an accent on responsive player experiences and technical leadership. Focus on solving complex architectural challenges, mentoring engineers, and delivering polished player-facing systems across multiple platforms.

Location: Hybrid in Cardiff, UK (requiring 3 days onsite each week)

Company

Part of the Rocket Science Group, hirify.global is a studio of AAA veterans providing high-end co-development services to help publishers navigate the toughest challenges in game development.

What you will do

• Design, implement, and polish responsive gameplay features, UI systems, and 3Cs (character, camera, and controls).
• Own the technical direction for player experience work, making architectural decisions and guiding solutions from prototype to ship.
• Act as a senior technical representative to partners, gathering requirements and communicating technical trade-offs.
• Investigate and resolve complex technical issues across gameplay, UI, and engine-level systems using profiling and diagnostic tools.
• Mentor team engineers and champion high standards of code quality and maintainability through code reviews.

Requirements

• Extensive professional experience shipping AAA games at a principal level.
• Expert proficiency in C++ and C#.
• Strong grasp of linear algebra and 3D geometry for cameras, character movement, and animation.
• Deep experience with Unreal Engine, including the Gameplay Framework, UMG/Slate, and input systems.
• Must be based in or able to commute to Cardiff, UK for 3 days onsite per week.

Nice to have

• Experience shipping titles on current-gen consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2).
• Professional experience with Unity.
• Knowledge of custom engine modifications, plugin development, or the Gameplay Ability System.
• Experience designing accessible controls and UI options.
• Prior experience in co-development or external development environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working arrangement with a city-center office in Cardiff.
• Private medical, dental, vision coverage, and a private pension via Salary Sacrifice.
• Annual research credit and professional development opportunities including internal tech talks.
• Strict no-crunch policy to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
• Family-friendly benefits including 6 weeks of parental leave.
• Office perks including weekly team lunches, snacks, and a fully equipped games lounge.