Expert Gameplay Programmer - AI

CD PROJEKT RED; United States; Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical healthcare

RRSP with employer matching

Stock option program

Flexible working hours

Remote work option

Job summary

CD PROJEKT RED is seeking an Expert Gameplay Programmer - AI to help craft Cyberpunk 2. You will architect spawning and behavioral AI systems, integrate bespoke content into a systemic open world, and mentor teammates across related areas.

You’ll work with designers and engineers to deliver performant, scalable gameplay features for a next‑gen open world, with the possibility of hybrid, in‑office, or fully remote work arrangements.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional programmer experience in the games industry.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Unreal Engine.
• Experience with AI systems in games and procedural content generation.
• Experience with current-gen console hardware.
• Excellent communication and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with designers and developers to populate the open world.
• Build and maintain systems for spawning, AI, and systemic gameplay.
• Profile and optimize performance and memory usage in the open world.
• Mentor other developers through code reviews and technical proposals.
• Develop debug and designer tools for non-deterministic gameplay.
• Write high-quality, optimised, bug-free code aligned with project goals.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration to ensure tools support all game systems.

Skills

C++

Unreal Engine

AI systems in games

Procedural content generation

Multithreaded systems

Performance optimization

Communication skills

Job description

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!

Job Description

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for an Expert 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 architecting systems and features to help our designers create and populate the open world. The main task in this role is to seamlessly integrate bespoke content with a systemic open world, implementing the low level systems that drive spawning and behavioral AI, while providing technical mentorship to team members working in related areas.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with designers and other developers to understand their needs and ensure they have the ability to efficiently populate the open world.
• Build and maintain major systems used to bring the open world to life, covering areas such as spawning, AI, and systemic gameplay.
• Monitor performance and memory usage in the open world, making optimizations as needed and developing strategies for other team members to make improvements.
• Oversee the technical efforts of other developers through code reviews, mentoring, and reviewing technical proposals.
• Develop debug tools, and designer tools needed for non-deterministic systemic gameplay.
• 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 7+years of professional experience as a programmer within the games industry.
• Strong proficiency in C++ programming and knowledge of Unreal Engine.
• Experience with procedural content generation and systemic gameplay.
• Experience with current-gen console hardware.
• Experience developing AI systems in games.
• A good understanding of geometric algorithms and data structures.
• Experience in writing Multi Threaded systems.
• Experience profiling and optimizing code.
• 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 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: $180,100 - $247,600 CAD annually. This role may be eligible for a long term incentive program (option to purchase CDPR stock after the vesting period).

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 aredependent on job-related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.