Expert Gameplay AI Software Engineer

2K; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 114,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus/Equity

401(k) plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation days

Sick days

Parental leave

Wellbeing programs

Commuter benefits

Job summary

2K Sports Lab in Vancouver, BC seeks an Expert Gameplay AI Software Engineer to craft the intelligence behind AAA sports titles in Unreal Engine 5. You will design AI systems for team-based decision-making, play selection, and realistic athlete behavior while collaborating with designers, animators, and gameplay engineers.

Ideal candidates bring 8+ years of game development software engineering, deep C++ and UE5 expertise, and a passion for team sports.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software engineering experience in game development.
• Experience with multi-threaded programming in performance-critical environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build AI systems for team-based sports gameplay in UE5.
• Design decision-making frameworks for play selection, formations, and tactics.
• Develop positional awareness and spatial reasoning for AI-controlled players.
• Optimize AI performance for multi-threaded, performance-critical environments.
• Partner with designers, animators, and gameplay engineers to deliver features.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to team-wide technical growth.
• Write clean, performant, and well-tested C++ code.
• Conduct code reviews to uphold quality and consistency.

Skills

C++

Unreal Engine 5

Algorithms

Multithreading

Team sports knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience

Job description

2K Sports Lab

Who We Are

Founded in 2023, 2K Sports Lab is the newest stand alone studio at 2K looking to push game development boundaries to bring 2K's next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. We're building a world-class team at our new Vancouver, BC location where our goal is to deliver an exceptional experience through bold ideas, technical excellence, and creative collaboration. We're seeking passionate and driven professionals across all areas of game development to help shape this ambitious vision. If you’re interested in tackling unique challenges and think you have what it takes to level up our team, we encourage you to apply!

What We Need

We’re looking for an Expert Gameplay AI Software Engineer to help build the intelligence behind our next AAA sports title. You’ll design and implement AI systems that drive team-based decision-making, play selection, positional awareness, and realistic athletic behavior in Unreal Engine 5. We need someone who combines deep algorithm expertise with a passion for team sports and a collaborative approach to working with designers, animators, and gameplay engineers.

What You Will Do

• Architect and build AI systems for team-based sports gameplay in UE5
• Design decision-making frameworks for play selection, formations, and tactics
• Develop positional awareness and spatial reasoning for AI-controlled players
• Optimize AI performance for multi-threaded, performance-critical environments
• Partner with designers, animators, and gameplay engineers to deliver features
• Mentor engineers and contribute to team-wide technical growth
• Write clean, performant, and well-tested C++ code
• Conduct code reviews to uphold quality and consistency

What Will Make You A Great Fit

• 8+ years of software engineering experience in game development
• Expertise in C++ and Unreal Engine 5
• Strong algorithm and data structure design skills
• Experience with multi-threaded programming in performance-critical environments
• Deep understanding of team-based sports and competitive game dynamics
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across disciplines
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience
• Passion for playing or watching sports

Beneficial Qualifications

• Track record of shipping AAA sports or simulation titles
• Familiarity with modern console hardware and optimization techniques

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between $114,300 and $169,140 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, suchas job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may alsoinclude other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including:medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paidvacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in theCompany’s discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parentaland compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support;family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements forfitness-related expenses.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.