Lead Programmer 

Job Summary

We are on the lookout for a Lead Gameplay Programmer!

This is a senior role for a technical expert who possesses both deep, multi-disciplinary knowledge and a strong ability to guide and mentor a team. You will be responsible for the "how" and "why" of the entire technical foundation of the game. Your primary focus will be on providing high-level technical direction, while remaining hands-on with some critical features, ensuring architectural integrity, and enabling the entire programming team to do their best work.

Responsibilities

• Define, document, and champion the game's high-level technical architecture.
• Lead technical design discussions, collaborating with Senior Programmers (System, Gameplay, Graphics, etc.) to evaluate solutions and select the best path forward.
• Act as the guardian of code quality, performance, and stability, ensuring all systems work cohesively.
• Champion pragmatic engineering solutions. You will be the primary advocate for the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle, pushing the team to find the simplest, most maintainable solution that meets the design goals, avoiding unnecessary complexity.
• Lead and mentor the entire programming team, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture.
• Maintain a constant, high-level awareness of all technical workstreams.
• Your primary goal is to ensure no team member is blocked or "stuck."
• Proactively identify when an engineer might be "going off-track" or implementing a solution that violates the core architecture or engineering common sense, and guide them back.
• Design, implement, and maintain core systems & features yourself when necessary
• Analyze, profile, and optimize systems and features when needed
• Support and provide guidance in debugging and fixing complex issues.
• Collaborate to find the best possible compromises between design ambitions and technical reality.
• Analyze new features and design decisions to ensure they are technically feasible, can be implemented within the schedule, and will not corrupt the existing technical infrastructure.
• Work closely with production to define technical roadmaps, estimate timelines, and identify potential risks.
• Ensure the team has the right tools and processes to work efficiently.
• Conduct high-level code reviews to enforce standards and maintain a healthy codebase.

Requirements

• 7+ years in game development, with significant experience in a Lead or Principal/Senior Programmer role.
• At least one shipped AA title developed with Unreal Engine 5 on PC and console.
• A deep understanding across multiple programming disciplines (e.g., Systems, Gameplay, AI, Graphics, Tools).
• Expert-level knowledge of C++ and a profound understanding of Unreal Engine's architecture.
• Solid foundation in 3D math (vectors, matrices, rotations, transforms).
• Strong knowledge of software design patterns and best practices for game development.
• Proven ability to architect complex systems and features and guide others in their implementation.
• Experience profiling and optimizing systems and features for performance and memory.
• Familiarity with Visual Studio and/or Rider.
• Experience with version control systems such as Git and/or Perforce.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken.
• Strong experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies in a leadership capacity.
• Experience managing technical debt and long-term codebase evolution
• Exceptional mentorship and communication skills.
• A strong sense of "engineering common sense" and a proven ability to make pragmatic decisions that balance technical debt, features, and schedule.
• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and to negotiate solutions that benefit the project as a whole.

Preferred Qualifications

• Development and optimization experience on console (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch).
• Experience in using and maintaining both console and 3rd party Online Subsystems to support online features
• Experience modifying the Unreal Engine source code.
• Experience developing third-person action-adventure games.

Competencies

• Ability to design gameplay systems that balance fun, responsiveness, and technical robustness.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for gameplay quality and delivery.
  High standards for code quality, readability, and long-term maintainability.
• Performance-driven mindset with a systemic approach to gameplay features.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills.
• Effective cross-disciplinary collaboration and leadership.

Soft Skills

• Clear, confident, and constructive communication.
• Leadership through example and empathy.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced, iterative development environment.
• Openness to feedback and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Passion for gameplay development and player experience.

We kindly ask you to apply by sending your resume and a short cover letter in English.