Principal Game Programmer (f/m/x)

Personio; Frankfurt; Remote; EUR 140.000 - 190.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Office in Frankfurt

Language courses

Remote work allowances

Germany ticket subsidy

Pro bono vouchers

Mental health platform access

Early learning & development budget

28 days paid vacation plus holidays

Zusammenfassung

DECK 13 Interactive in Frankfurt is seeking a Principal Game Programmer (f/m/x) to set the technical bar across Unreal Engine, tooling and gameplay. You will own the hardest technical problems and guide architecture in close collaboration with the Technical Director.

As the senior IC, you will mentor engineers at all levels, drive cross-system optimizations, contribute to hiring through technical interviews, and ensure robust documentation and knowledge sharing.

Qualifikationen

• 10+ years in game development industry.
• Expert-level C++ with system design expertise.
• Proven track record shipping AA/AAA titles.
• Deep knowledge of Unreal Engine internals and subsystems.
• Experience mentoring engineers at all levels.
• Strong debugging and optimization across CPU/GPU.

Aufgaben

• Drive technical and architectural decisions across major systems.
• Own the most technically demanding work: deep optimization, cross-system refactors, and high-risk areas of the codebase.
• Set and uphold technical standards and best practices.
• Mentor programmers through pairing, code reviews, and technical guidance.
• Own documentation and knowledge sharing for the systems and domains you know best.
• Identify, evaluate, and prototype new tools and workflows to improve the team's output.
• Contribute to hiring through technical interviews and onboarding.

Kenntnisse

C++ expert

Unreal Engine internals

Architectural design

Engine-level tooling

Cross-system optimization

Mentoring & leadership

Documentation & communication

Console programming

Tools

Unreal Engine tooling

Profiling & debugging tools

Jobbeschreibung

Your Quest:

As ourPrincipalGameProgrammer(f/m/x), you will be the most senior individual contributor on the programming team. Your mission includes setting the technical bar across Unreal Engine, our development tools, and gameplay. Additionally, you will own the hardest technical problems and drive architecture in close collaboration with the Technical Director. Mentoring senior, regular, and junior programmers is a core, formal part of the role.
YourMissionIncludes:

• Drive technical and architectural decisions across major systems
• Take ownership of the most technically demanding work: deep optimization, cross-system refactors, and high-risk areas of the codebase
• Set and uphold technical standards and best practices
• Mentor programmers of all levels through pairing, code reviews, and technical guidance, fostering growth and unblocking complex problems
• Own documentation and knowledge sharing for the systems and domains you know best
• Identify, evaluate, and prototype new tools and workflows to improve the team's output
• Contribute to hiring through technical interviews and onboarding

Your Toolkit:

• 10+ years of experience in the gamedevelopment industry
• Expert-level proficiency in C++, with a deep understanding of programming principles, system design, and large-scale architectures
• Extensiveexperienceingameprogrammingacrossengine-levelworkandtoolsdevelopment
• DeepknowledgeofUnrealEngineinternalsandmajorsubsystems
• AproventrackrecordofshippingAA/AAAtitleswithsignificantownershipovercoresystems
• Strongdebugging,profiling,andoptimizationskillsacrossCPUandGPU,includingplatform-specificwork
• Demonstrated mentorship experience: growing other programmers through pair programming, code reviews, and technical coaching
• Excellent communication and documentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to both engineers and non-engineers
• Soundjudgmentonwhentobuild,whentorefactor,andwhentoshipas-is
• 2+ years of console programming experience (PlayStation, Xbox)
• This position is available for candidates based in time zones within +/- 2 hours of Germany (CET/CEST). We are also open to applicants located anywhere who are willing and able to relocate to Germany

You Get Extra XP for:

• Deepspecializationinaparticulardomain(gameplay,tools,rendering,animation,orAI)
• PriorexperienceonaPrincipal/StaffICtrackatanotherstudio
• Consolecertificationwork(PlayStation,Xbox)
• Having shipped at least one AA/AAA game

Power-Ups You Receive:

At DECK 13 Interactive, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in creating an environment where you feel valued, supported, and empowered to do your best work. Here's what we offer to make that happen:

• Amodern,centrallylocatedofficeinFrankfurt,Germany(nearMesse)
• Freelanguagecoursestohelpyouexpandyourskills
• Monthlyallowancesforremoteworkingandgymmemberships
• AmonthlyallowancefortheDeutschlandtickettoeaseyourcommute
• Tax-freeProboniovouchersavailableeverymonth
• Freeaccesstoanonlinementalhealthplatform(Bloom)tosupportyourwell-being
• Opportunitiesforcareergrowthwithayearlylearning&developmentbudget
• 28 days of paid vacation, plus the 24th and 31st of December off

Our Commitment to Inclusivity:

DECK 13 Interactive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other characteristic that makes you unique.We believe that diverse teams create the best games, and we're dedicated to building a workplace where everyone can thrive.