Gameplay Engineering Lead

Please note that this is a hybrid position with a mixture of in-office and home-based working.

Part of the Rocket Science Group, Atomic Theory comprises a multinational team of seasoned AAA veterans with roots extending from Blizzard, PUBG, Epic, and Unity. We have a track record of delivering player-centric, AAA-quality experiences, and we're unwavering in our commitment to performance, accessibility, and the meticulous attention to the engineering tools and frameworks that underpin exceptional gameplay.

But Atomic Theory is also more than just a studio; for us, it's a sanctuary, a place where our diverse experiences can intersect and combine to carry our solutions to the next level. We're dedicated to aiding studios and publishers in navigating the toughest challenges across today's game development landscape -- and with offices in Albany, NY; Austin, TX; and Cardiff, UK, we thrive at the opportunity to Get Sh!t Done on a global scale. 

About the Role:

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Gameplay Engineering Lead to join our team. In this position, you will lead and play a vital role in video game development by collaborating closely with a talented team of engineers to plan, implement, and deliver updates, features, and bug fixes. Additionally, you will be responsible for managing and guiding the career development of your engineers, fostering their growth and helping them reach their full potential. As a Gameplay Engineering Lead, you'll promote best engineering practices, drive technical excellence, and contribute significantly to the success of our projects.

What You'll Do:

• Promote Transparency: Drive outcomes by providing clear communication, openness and expectations around the team, projects, and progress.

• People Management: Manage and empower a team of developers by continuously cultivating their talent and growth.

• Force Multiplication: Support the team to deliver for our customers by collaborating with partners, balancing team and customer expectations, and unblocking obstacles facing individual developers. 

• Champion Equity: Ensure that all perspectives are heard and create a diverse and inclusive environment to allow the team to innovate, learn, and succeed.

• Individual Contribution: Implement concise, high-quality software solutions that the team takes pride in and that our customers can rely on.

What We Value:

• Leadership Skills: Previous experience as a Gameplay Team Lead or Engineering Manager, ideally including a history of coordinating small- to medium-sized teams working towards a common goal.

• Depth of Understanding: Empathy for the unique challenges developers face building and maintaining solutions.

• Passion for People: Ability to mentor, coach, and develop team members; lead by example; and build trust and solid relationships amongst the team.

• Development Experience: Proven track record of leading a team while implementing solutions for a successful project.

• Interpersonal Communication: Strong collaboration, facilitation, and communication skills with a desire to work with, listen to, and understand people. 

What You May Also Have:

• Working knowledge of game engine technologies (e.g., Unreal, Unity, Godot, and proprietary engines). 

• Experience with cloud platforms to build highly scalable solutions.

• Experience building online experiences, such as multiplayer games.

What We Can Offer:

• Hybrid Working Arrangement: As a member of our team, you’ll have the flexibility to work at home and collaborate with your fellow engineers in person!

• Competitive Salary and Benefits Package: Your health and wellbeing is important to us, so we offer a variety of benefits including: 

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Matching

  • Annual Leave, Plus 9 Paid Holidays and Winter Break Office Closure

• Annual Research Credit: We always encourage personal growth, so we provide all of our team members with an annual credit to further enhance your skills!

• Professional Development: We offer biannual reviews, as well as opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, internal tech talks, and the chance to learn from specialists with backgrounds from across the games and software development industries. 

• Work-Life Balance: We really believe that home life comes first and we promote a flexible working environment. And as an added bonus: We don’t crunch! 

• Family Friendly: We understand the importance of family, which is why we offer 6 weeks full of Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave to support you during this exciting time!

• Office Perks: In addition to everything above, we also provide: 

  • Weekly Team Lunches (plus Snacks!)

  • Fully Equipped Team Lounge, Including our Favorite Consoles and Games

  • And, most importantly, a supportive and creative working environment made up of talented and friendly people, as well as the opportunity to work on some pretty cool games and projects – if we do say so ourselves!

A Friendly Note from the Recruitment Team:

Let us do the work for you: Even if your profile isn’t an exact match for all of the qualifications listed above, we still want you to apply. Our team members come from a variety of different industries, not all of which are immediately relevant to game or software development, and we welcome all candidates of similarly varied backgrounds, communities, and identities. 

Rocket Science is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a worry-free workplace void of discrimination or harassment. Rocket Scientists are expected to foster and champion an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve. 

Rocket Science does not accept unsolicited résumés from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms.  

The salary for this role is typically within the range of $85,000-175,000/year. We recognize that this is a large range, but please note that this includes and reflects our openness to candidates with multiple levels of experience. Actual pay will ultimately be contingent upon a variety of factors, including your own combination of experience, skills, and qualifications. 

#li-hybrid