Senior Gameplay Software Engineer (Unreal Engine 5)

Blackbird Interactive; Canada; Remote; CAD 105,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading game studio in Canada is hiring a Senior Gameplay Engineer to drive gameplay system design using C++ and Unreal Engine. Candidates should have over 5 years of experience in game development and be able to collaborate closely with design and production teams. This position supports a four-day work week and remote work within Canada.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience with C++ in Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
• Strong track record of gameplay system development.
• Experience with performance profiling, memory budgeting, and debugging tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of player-facing mechanics such as traversal and combat.
• Define modular, scalable gameplay frameworks for PC and console.
• Profile, analyze, and optimize gameplay systems across platforms.

Skills

C++

Unreal Engine 4/5

Gameplay system development

Performance profiling

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

BSc in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects, which encompass world-class IPs as well as our own creations across multiple genres.

In 2022, we announced that our studio is implementing afour-day work weekas well as supporting in-studio, remote within Canada, and hybrid work arrangements as permanent options to our employees.

Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects. These include both world-class IPs and our own creations across multiple genres and platforms.

In 2022, we introduced a four-day work week and continue to support in-studio, remote (within Canada), and hybrid work arrangements as permanent options for all employees.

We’re looking for a senior gameplay engineer to drive the design and implementation of moment-to-moment systems that define the player experience. You’ll partner closely with design, art, and production to shape gameplay architecture, solve cross-disciplinary challenges, and mentor engineers while pushing the boundaries of what's possible in Unreal Engine 5.

This role is remote-friendly in Canada (Pacific-time overlap required).

What You’ll Tackle

• Gameplay Systems Ownership – Lead the development of player-facing mechanics such as traversal, combat, interaction, and abilities in C++ and Blueprints.
• Technical Architecture – Define modular, scalable gameplay frameworks that empower content creators, support networked play, and scale across PC and console SKUs.
• Cross-functional Leadership – Collaborate deeply with design, animation, audio, and production to ensure features are robust, performant, and aligned with creative goals.
• Performance & Optimization – Profile, analyze, and optimize gameplay systems across platforms to meet performance and memory targets.
• Mentorship & Code Quality – Provide technical mentorship, guide best practices, and elevate the engineering team through thoughtful code reviews and pair programming.
• Innovation & Exploration – Prototype and evaluate new gameplay paradigms, stay current with UE5 tech (e.g. GAS, MassEntity, Chaos), and lead knowledge-sharing initiatives within the studio.

You’ll Thrive Here If You…

• Have 5+ years of professional experience with C++ in Unreal Engine 4 or 5, with a strong track record of gameplay system development.
• Hold a BSc in Computer Science or a college diploma in software engineering, game programming, or a closely related field.
• Have shipped multiple titles, including at least one where you owned significant gameplay features from concept to release.
• Excel at bridging design vision with technical execution, and enjoy collaborating across disciplines.
• Think critically about player experience, systemic design, and clean abstraction.
• Are experienced with performance profiling, memory budgeting, and debugging tools.
• Communicate clearly, advocate for efficiency, and lead by example in engineering culture.

Bonus XP

• Deep experience with Gameplay Ability System, MassEntity, or custom gameplay frameworks.
• Experience leading gameplay teams or mentoring mid/junior engineers.
• Familiarity with animation programming, AI behavior systems, or multiplayer gameplay logic.
• Passion for empowering designers through tools, data-driven systems, or scripting APIs.
• Strong advocate for accessibility, player expression, and diverse playstyles.

$105,000 - $155,000 a year