Lead AI Designer

Epic Games; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 152,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading game development company in Vancouver is looking for an experienced Lead AI Designer to lead a team in creating innovative gameplay features. Responsibilities include owning the design and vision for AI NPCs, crafting AI behaviors, and fostering a collaborative team environment. Ideal candidates will have experience shipping AAA titles, strong technical skills in behavior trees, and an empathetic player-focused approach. Competitive benefits and a substantial salary range are offered.

Benefits

100% coverage for employee and dependent benefits

Retirement savings plan with competitive employer match

Mental well-being program

Employee assistance program

Qualifications

• 2+ years in a Lead Game Designer role, with experience managing a team.
• Experience with behavior trees and visual scripting.
• Ability to empathize with players and understand their motivations.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, vision, and outcome for features related to AI NPCs.
• Oversee and craft high-quality AI behaviors and abilities.
• Lead and develop the design team, fostering a collaborative environment.

Skills

Experience shipping multiple AAA titles

Development of AI for highly systemic environments

Creating behavior trees

Creative approach

Empathy towards players

Organizational skills

Solution-oriented problem solving

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

DESIGN What We Do

Put your design skills to work at a cutting‑edge company that challenges the norm. From character and level design to competitive gameplay and system design, help shape the future of interactive entertainment at Epic.

What You'll Do

Epic Games is looking for an experienced Lead AI Designer to join our cross‑disciplinary development team, where you will own the vision and create innovative features. In this role, you’ll lead a team of designers in order to create compelling gameplay features and experiences for our players.

In this role, you will

• Own the design, vision, and outcome for major features related to AI NPCs, and more.
• Oversee and craft high‑quality, player‑facing AI behaviors and abilities using behavior trees and visual scripting
• Lead by example to set the quality bar for design
• Actively participate in big‑picture decisions, and ensure the design team focuses on the right elements to achieve superior results
• Create and supervise the creation of clear, structured design documents
• Lead, develop and grow the design team, enabling designers to achieve their career goals and best outcomes while also increasing the capabilities of the team; resolve conflicts and foster a healthy, fun working environment
• Cooperate with other designers from the AI team to define and promote a cohesive vision for AI in your project

What we're looking for

• Experience shipping multiple AAA titles as a Designer with experience developing AI for a highly systemic environment, ideally with a combination of shooter and PvP experience
• 2+ years in a Lead Game Designer role, including experience managing or leading a team
• Experience creating behavior trees and using visual scripting
• A creative approach that can surprise and amaze players with new ideas and experiences
• Talent for empathizing with players and a deep understanding of player motivations.
• Organized leader who can structure and plan their own work, and guide planning and goals for their teams
• Solution‑oriented problem solver who can react quickly to changing project needs and drive to decisions

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

We pay 100% for benefits for both employees and dependents and offer coverage for supplemental medical, dental, vision, critical illness, telemedicine, Life and AD&D, long term disability insurance as well as weekly indemnity (short term disability) and a retirement savings plan with a competitive employer match. In addition to the EAP (employee assistance program), we also offer a robust mental well‑being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents.

Pay Transparency Information

The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren’t limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic’s generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs).

British Columbia Base Pay Range

$152,967 — $244,352 CAD

ABOUT US

Epic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 years, we've been making award‑winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award‑winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high‑fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world‑class talent.

Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.