Gameplay Systems Engineer (Unreal Engine)

TL;DR

Gameplay Systems Engineer (Unreal Engine/C++): Building and stabilizing gameplay AI systems and data-driven ECS architectures for upcoming horror titles with an accent on AI behaviors, pathfinding, and performance optimization. Focus on translating creative intent into robust AI systems and scaling MVPs to production-ready quality.

Location: Remote (Must be based in the United States)

Salary: $36 - $64 USD hourly (depending on location)

Company

Startup multimedia studio best known for the hit indie horror franchise "Poppy Playtime".

What you will do

• Design and implement gameplay AI systems in Unreal Engine using Behavior Trees, Blackboards, and EQS.
• Build complex enemy AI behaviors including perception, patrol, chase, and combat for horror mechanics.
• Collaborate with designers to translate creative intent regarding pacing, tension, and scares into tunable systems.
• Optimize AI systems for performance, resolving bottlenecks in pathfinding and decision-making at scale.
• Develop clean, maintainable C++ and Blueprint code within a data-driven ECS architecture.
• Document system architecture and design patterns in Confluence to support team onboarding.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of professional game development experience focusing on gameplay AI or systems programming.
• Must be based in the United States.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Unreal Engine (including Behavior Trees and Navigation systems).
• Experience shipping at least one commercial game title.
• Familiarity with performance profiling and optimization within Unreal Engine.
• Experience using Jira for task tracking and Confluence for documentation.

Nice to have

• Experience building AI specifically for horror, stealth, or tension-driven gameplay.
• Familiarity with animation systems such as state machines, blend spaces, and IK.
• Knowledge of machine learning techniques applied to procedural behavior or adaptive difficulty.
• Prior experience at small or indie studios.
• Passion for the Poppy Playtime franchise.

Culture & Benefits

• High-trust, high-autonomy role with the ability to independently own complex systems.
• Opportunity to contribute to a world-famous, rapidly expanding horror property.
• Collaborative environment working closely with designers, animators, and senior engineers.
• Remote-first work arrangement within the US.