Senior Gameplay Software Engineer - EA SPORTSTM UFC

Electronic Arts; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 141,000 - 204,000; Full time

Job summary

Electronic Arts in Vancouver is seeking a Senior Gameplay Engineer to shape core player combat and real-time gameplay systems for UFC titles. You will drive how punches, kicks, hits, and physics feel and respond, collaborating with designers, animators, and technical leaders to turn ambitious ideas into polished gameplay.

You will report to a Senior Gameplay Engineer and help mentor junior engineers, optimize engine performance, and push AI techniques and tools into production.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience in video game development.
• Strong portfolio of shipped titles or core gameplay systems work.
• Experience developing gameplay systems such as combat mechanics, player controllers, animation trees/IK, physics, or game AI.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and refine high-performance gameplay systems including controls, combat logic, and physics.
• Collaborate with designers, animators, audio engineers, and producers to realize gameplay concepts.
• Optimize engine performance, multi-threading, memory usage, and network synchronization.
• Integrate AI techniques and automation to improve workflows and combat behavior.
• Develop developer tools, editors, and profiling utilities for designers and artists.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote coding best practices across the team.

Skills

C++

Data structures

3D math

Physics

Debugging

Memory optimization

Multi-threading

Performance profiling

Collaboration & Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Tools

Perforce

Git

Job description

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

EA SPORTTM

is one of the most iconic brands in entertainment – connecting hundreds of millions around the world to the sports they love through a portfolio of industry-leading video games.

EA SPORTTM FC UFC

franchise offers the electrifying spectacle and entertainment of MMA for over 20 million players across the globe. It delivers fluid and responsive mixed martial arts through inventive Gameplay Software Engineer - UFC gameplay technology.

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the EA SPORTTM UFC team is on a mission to become the world's greatest fighting game. If you're passionate about building immersive digital entertainment, this is the role of a lifetime.

We are looking for a passionate and talented Senior Gameplay Engineer to help shape the core player experience and elevate our combat systems to the next level. In this role, you will be a key architect of the moment-to-moment combat gameplay, driving how punches, kicks, takedowns, physics, and AI behaviors feel and react in real time. You will work at the intersection of technology and creativity, collaborating closely with game designers, animators, and technical leaders to turn ambitious design concepts into smooth, responsive, and visually stunning gameplay.

You will report to a Senior Gameplay Engineer and work closely with designers and producers to bring ideas to life.

Your Responsibilities:

• Design & Build Core Systems: Architect, implement, and refine high-performance gameplay systems including player controls, combat logic, character animation state machines, physics interactions, and spatial AI.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner closely with designers, animators, audio engineers, and producers to translate creative vision into engaging, high-fidelity gameplay mechanics.
• Engine & Performance Optimization: Contribute to core engine capabilities, multi-threaded architecture, memory management, and network synchronization to ensure fluid frame rates and ultra-responsive controls.
• Integrate Emerging Tech & AI: Pioneer the integration of emerging AI techniques and automated workflows into development pipelines to enhance innovation, dynamic character behavior, and team efficiency.
• Tools & Workflow Development: Build and maintain developer-facing tools, editors, and performance profiling utilities to empower designers and animators.
• Tune & Polish: Continuously iterate on gameplay mechanics to ensure responsiveness, impact clarity, frame accuracy, and overall player satisfaction.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Guide and mentor junior and mid-level engineers, promoting software engineering best practices, code quality, and technical excellence across the team.

Your Qualifications:

At EA, we know that great talent comes from diverse backgrounds. You don’t need to meet 100% of the listed requirements to be a great fit for this role. If you meet most of these qualifications and are excited about building world-class gameplay.

• Experience: 5+ years of professional software engineering experience in video game development, with a strong portfolio of shipped titles or core gameplay systems work.
• Core Technical Skills:
  • Advanced proficiency in C++ and object-oriented software design.
  • Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, 3D math (linear algebra, vector math, quaternions), and physics.
  • Deep experience with debugging, memory optimization, multi-threading, and performance profiling.
• System Expertise: Hands-on experience developing gameplay systems such as combat mechanics, player controllers, animation trees/IK, physics, or game AI.
• Innovation Mindset: Proven track record or active affinity for leveraging emerging AI technologies and automation to optimize workflows and drive technical innovation.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical team members.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice to Haves:

• Experience developing for modern console platforms (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S).
• Deep passion for combat sports (UFC, MMA, Boxing) or fighting games.
• Familiarity with dynamic animation techniques, procedural movement, or physics-driven hit reaction systems.
• Familiarity with modern version control tools (Perforce, Git).

Pay Transparency - North America

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

• * British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$141,400 - $204,400 CAD

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.