Lead Tools and Engine Programmer

Playdawn; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

A game development studio is looking for a Lead Tools & Engine Programmer experienced in Unreal Engine to lead a team and optimize technical workflows. The role requires extensive programming experience, particularly with engine internals, and the ability to make impactful contributions to AAA game projects. Candidates should possess strong leadership skills and a background in multi-platform development, particularly for mobile and browser environments. This role offers competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 7 years of professional experience in game engine or tools programming.
• 3 years in a senior or lead engineering role.
• Expert-level C skills and deep understanding of Unreal Engine internals (UE4/UE5).
• Proven experience building editor tools and engine extensions.
• Strong background in system architecture and scalable tool development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of tools and engine programmers.
• Design, build, and optimize internal tools and production workflows.
• Improve build times, asset management, and editor performance.
• Work closely with various teams for smooth integration.

Skills

C programming

Unreal Engine internals (UE4/UE5)

Leadership and mentoring

Performance optimization

Multi-platform development

Job description

Role Summary

Lead Tools & Engine Programmer (Unreal Engine) – Location: Bangalore India – Employment Type: Full-Time On-site

We are looking for an experienced Lead Tools & Engine Programmer with deep knowledge of Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5) engine systems and editor tooling. This role focuses on building the technical foundation that supports designers artists and engineers by creating powerful tools pipelines and engine extensions.

You will lead and mentor a team of tools and engine programmers, define technical direction and ensure high-quality scalable systems that support efficient development for mobile and browser-based platforms.

This is a core technical leadership role with a direct impact on productivity workflows and overall game quality.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of tools and engine programmers.
• Set coding standards technical guidelines and best practices.
• Define system architecture and long-term technical direction for tools and engine development.
• Work closely with senior technical leadership to plan future engine and pipeline improvements.

Tools & Engine Development

• Design build and optimize internal tools pipelines and production workflows.
• Extend and customize Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5) to meet project-specific needs.
• Develop runtime systems engine modules and advanced editor utilities.
• Create tools that significantly improve efficiency for content design and engineering teams.

Performance & Optimization

• Lead profiling debugging and optimization of engine and editor systems.
• Improve build times asset management workflows and editor performance.
• Ensure systems scale efficiently across mobile and browser platforms.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with gameplay rendering technical art backend and production teams.
• Ensure smooth integration and alignment between tools engine systems and gameplay features.
• Maintain clear and up-to-date technical documentation for all tools and pipelines.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7 years of professional experience in game engine or tools programming.
• 3 years in a senior or lead engineering role.
• Expert-level C skills with deep understanding of Unreal Engine internals (UE4/UE5).
• Proven experience building editor tools engine extensions custom pipelines or engine modifications.
• Strong background in system architecture engine-level programming and scalable tool development.
• Extensive experience in profiling debugging and optimizing engine and editor performance.
• Solid understanding of multi-platform development especially mobile and browser environments.
• Strong leadership mentoring and communication skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience designing or leading build automation and CI/CD pipelines.
• Exposure to cloud-based game technologies WebAssembly Pixel Streaming or browser runtime systems.
• Familiarity with large-scale asset pipelines and distributed production workflows.
• Previous experience leading tools or engine teams on AAA-scale projects.

Why This Role

• Own and drive the tools and engine strategy for a next-generation AAA Unreal Engine project.
• High-impact role influencing technical direction workflows and final product quality.
• Work in a strongly engineering-led environment focused on scalability and performance.
• Competitive compensation and long-term growth opportunities.

Please note: This position is for one of Playdawns clients and successful candidates will be hired directly by the client not by Playdawn. Our client is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities regardless of race color religion gender age disability or other protected characteristics. They believe that diversity fuels innovation and creativity and they strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to shared success.