Gameplay Programmer

Breda University of Applied Sciences; Breda; Hybrid; EUR 41,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Public transport reimbursement

Health insurance contribution

8.3% year-end bonus

8% holiday allowance

Development hours

11 weeks holiday (FT)

Relocation assistance

ABP pension

Hybrid work option

Job summary

Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) seeks a gameplay programmer to implement and maintain gameplay systems within Cradle, BUas' R&D lab. Work on serious games, digital twins, and VR/AR projects, collaborating with designers and other programmers on a green, sustainable campus in Breda.

The role offers a 0.8-1 FTE schedule, an indefinite potential after provisional contract, and remote work options to support work-life balance. Strong English communication is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Experience as a gameplay programmer in game development sought.
• Proficiency with Unity or Unreal Engine and C++/C#.

Responsibilities

• Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code for high-quality gaming experiences.
• Debug and optimize code for performance and stability across platforms.
• Analyze and solve technical problems with designers and artists.
• Document code and technical processes for knowledge sharing.
• Present developed work to external partners.
• Collaborate in an international, cross-disciplinary team.

Skills

Gameplay programming

C++

C#

Debugging & optimization

English communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Fibery

Git

Perforce

Job description

You are passionate about programming, coding and game development and would like to use your skills to help industry and colleagues during Cradle projects. Cradle is the research and development lab of the Academy for AI, Games & Media (AGM) at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas). As a gameplay programmer (0.8-1FTE), you will be working on a green, sustainable and high-tech campus close to the city centre of Breda, at a top-ranked academy with strong ties to industry.

As a gameplay programmer (0.8-1 FTE), you will mainly work for Cradle, which is the research and development lab of the Academy for AI, Games & Media (AGM) at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas). Cradle focuses on developing the next generation of serious games, applications and digital twins. It combines cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), motion capture and game technology with creative design and storytelling. Cradle is a hub that brings together students, researchers and industry professionals, including programmers, artists and designers.
As part of the R&D department, you will work on a range of projects, which all vary in objective and content. The projects come from the domains of Media, Animation, Mixed Reality, Entertainment Games, Digital Twins, and Applied and Serious Games. They will always fit one or more of our professorships , involve external partners and aim to drive innovation.
You will be responsible for the technical implementation and maintenance of gameplay systems and mechanics in collaboration with designers, artists and other programmers. Your activities focus on:

• Writing clean, efficient, and maintainable code to create high-quality gaming experiences;
• Debugging and optimising code for performance, stability and maintainability across various platforms;
• Analysing and solving technical problems;
• Participating in brainstorming sessions and contributing ideas to the development process;
• Staying up-to-date with relevant trends and technologies in game development;
• Documenting code, systems and technical processes to ensure maintainability and knowledge sharing within the team;
• Presenting and demonstrating developed work to external partners.

You love to work with experts and enjoy the benefits of working in an educational environment.BUas aims to create a stimulating workplace for both students and staff, to enable them to integrate knowledge and skills, to develop their talents to the fullest and apply these to society in a professional and responsible manner.

What do we offer?

• The salary for this position amounts to a monthly minimum of€3,667.97and a monthly maximum of€5,154.67 (gross amounts based on full-time employment);
• This position is classified in scale 9 of thecao-hbo(collective labour agreement). Your official job title will be Instructor;
• This position involves a one-year employment contract with the possibility of conversion into an indefinite employment contract;
• Your commuting expenses will be fully reimbursed when you travel by public transport;
• You will receive a contribution towards your health insurance costs;
• You will receive an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%in December andanannual holiday allowance of 8% in May;
• You will also be awarded professional development hours every year and almost 11 weeks of holiday entitlements in a full-time position;
• You have the option to work partly from home, which can help improve your work-life balance;
• You will build an attractive pension through the ABP pension fund;
• Working at BUas means always striving for ‘the plus’. BUas aims to be more than just a university of applied sciences, continuously focusing on development and creating meaningful experiences;
• You will be working at a top-ranked university of applied sciences on a green, sustainable campus near the city centre of Breda;
• You will be working in an attractive and friendly working environment alongside enthusiastic colleagues from the industry and students from around the world. The research team at the Academy for AI, Games & Media is very close-knit, and diversity and inclusion are rooted in our DNA;
• You will be working on cutting-edge and innovative projects and technology;
• Moving from abroad to Breda in the Netherlands? We provide support and financial compensation for relocation and settling in the Netherlands. Dutch tax authorities may offer tax reductions to applicants from abroad, making tax rates comparable to those in the UK and US.

What do we ask of you?

• You have a relevant bachelor’s degree in a related field;
• You have experience as a gameplay programmer or similar role in the game development industry;
• You are experienced with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine;
• You have a strong proficiency in C++ and/or C#, with experience in other programming languages being a plus;
• You have strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail, enabling you to write reliable, efficient and maintainable code;
• You have broad knowledge and a good understanding of areas such as networked systems, UI/UX implementation and animation;
• You have familiarity with agile development, Fibery, and version control systems (e.g. Git or Perforce);
• You have a strong work ethic and self-motivation, and a passion for gaming;
• You have a positive and proactive attitude, with a team-oriented mindset. You love working in a small team environment, taking initiative and adapting to new challenges;
• You will be working in an international and intercultural setting. Therefore, having excellent verbal and written communication skills in English is a necessity.

Breda University of Applied Sciences (hereafter referred to as BUas) is a specialist, small-scale and international university of applied sciences. BUas offers bachelor's and master's degree programmes at both professional and academic levels, with expertise in closely interrelated fields: Tourism, Leisure & Events, Hotel & Facility, Logistics & Built Environment, Media & Creative Business, Games, and Data Science & AI. Our strength lies in the ability to connect these fields.
We aim to create added value in our education and research for our students, and therefore also for business and society. We provide our students with knowledge as well as ‘BUas Skills for Life’, empowering them to thrive in a constantly changing world and contribute to making it a better place. We encourage our employees to lead by example, fostering independence, collaboration and practical research that can be applied in real-world contexts.
We are curious about the world around us, considerate of each other, and committed to creating a healthy living and working environment for students and staff. This ethos defines how we operate on our campus. Within our inspiring learning community, we encourage each other to optimally develop our talents, combine knowledge and skills, and apply them in society in a sustainable manner.