Senior Gameplay Programmer - AI

CD Projekt; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 127,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Free mental health support

Flexible working hours

Dog-friendly office

Job summary

CD PROJEKT RED is seeking a Senior Gameplay Programmer specialized in AI to join the Cyberpunk 2 team in Vancouver. You will help build believable worlds by creating scalable AI systems, navigation, pathfinding, and avoidance features for open-world environments.

You will collaborate with designers and engineers to deliver high-quality, optimised code, while developing debugging and designer tools and driving cross-functional collaboration across game systems.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of professional programming in the games industry.
• Strong C++ and Unreal Engine proficiency.
• Expertise in pathfinding, navigation and AI for open-world games.
• Experience with current-gen consoles.
• Solid understanding of 3D mathematics and data structures.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with designers and developers to create efficient AI systems.
• Build and maintain core AI behaviour systems for open world.
• Develop debug and designer tools for AI systems.
• Write high-quality, optimised, bug-free code aligned with project goals.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration to maximise tool impact across game systems.

Skills

C++ programming

Unreal Engine

Pathfinding

Navigation

Multithreading

3D mathematics

Job description

Job Description

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Gameplay Programmer - AI to join our team to work on Cyberpunk 2, the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077. In this role, you will help the team develop believable worlds by creating systems and features that aid our designers create highly advanced AI behaviours. This role will be responsible for core navigation, pathfinding, and avoidance systems, with a focus on scalability and open world performance.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with designers and other developers to understand their needs and ensure they have the ability to create smart and efficient AI systems.
• Build and maintain major systems that define AI behaviour in an open world.
• Develop debug tools, designer tools needed for the systems.
• Write high-quality code that is optimised, bug‑free, and aligned with project goals.
• Foster cross‑functional collaboration to ensure the tools contribute effectively to all game systems and components.

Qualifications

• At least 5+ years of professional experience as a programmer within the games industry.
• Strong proficiency in C++ programming and knowledge of Unreal Engine.
• Deep expertise with pathfinding, navigation, and avoidance, ideally in an open world game.
• Experience with current‑gen console hardware.
• A good understanding of geometric algorithms and data structures.
• Experience developing AI systems in games.
• Experience in writing Multi Threaded systems.
• Experience profiling and optimizing code at the systems level.
• A deep understanding of 3D mathematics.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically to overcome technical challenges and drive innovation in technology.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

Nice to have

(Please note that these skills are not required to apply for the position)

• Professional experience with Mass AI in Unreal 5.
• Experience with ECS or Mass Framework.
• Experience with navigation in 3D.
• Experience working in a large development environment.
• Shipped at least 1 AAA title.

Additional Information

The application window for this position will close by 05/01/2027.

This job can be hybrid/in-office or fully remote.

Health & Well-Being

• Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
• Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well‑being webinars.
• Paid leave — 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, & 12 calendar holidays per year.
• RRSP with employer matching.
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) – $100 per month to use towards fitness, wellness, internet, home office equipment, learning, streaming services, and more.
• Menstrual leave — employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
• RED Parents Network — support for working parents.
• Flexible working hours.

Perks & Professional Growth

• Trainings, lectures, and courses — internal workshops, knowledge‑sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e‑learning classes are all available.
• A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office

• Dog‑friendly office — bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet.
• Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
• No dress‑code — we like to keep it casual.

This position is a new role.

Estimated pay range for this position: $127,200 - $209,900 CAD annually

At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on job‑related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story‑driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind‑the‑scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!