Gameplay Data Science Engineer (Apex Legends)

Respawn Entertainment; Los Angeles, California (CA, MO); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 256,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Company holidays

Job summary

Respawn Entertainment is seeking a Gameplay Data Science Engineer to drive R&D for bot behaviors and AI frameworks within Apex Legends. You will blend data science with gameplay programming to craft intelligent agents and improve player engagement.

Work at the intersection of ML, RL, and game AI, collaborating with designers and producers to deliver robust AI systems across platforms. This role emphasizes engine-level implementation and scalable data pipelines.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in data science, ML engineering, or gameplay programming in games
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python for engine-level & algorithmic development
• Hands-on with RL, supervised/unsupervised learning, AI architectures like Utility AI
• Experience with large-scale computing frameworks, big-data techniques, and scalable data pipelines
• Solid mathematics, statistics, and optimization applied to game AI/ML

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D for game bots using ML, RL, and neural networks to create realistic agent behaviors
• Design, implement, and maintain gameplay-focused AI frameworks inside the game engine
• Collaborate with gameplay teams to translate vision into scalable AI solutions
• Develop algorithms to structure and analyze gameplay data to improve bot performance
• Optimize AI systems and data pipelines for high performance across consoles and servers

Skills

C/C++

Python

Machine Learning

Reinforcement Learning

Big Data

Education

Bachelor's or higher in CS/Data Science/Engineering

Tools

Big Data Frameworks

Data Pipelines

Game Engine

Job description

Description & Requirements

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.

Job Title: Gameplay Data Science Engineer

Location: Hybrid - Vancouver or Los Angeles

Reports to: Technical Director

Job Summary

Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world's leading live service franchises: Apex Legends.

As a Gameplay & Data Science Engineer, you will drive the Research & Development of advanced bot behaviors and AI frameworks to enhance the Apex Legends experience. You will work at the intersection of data science and gameplay programming, utilizing machine learning and reinforcement learning to create intelligent agents. Working closely with gameplay teams, game designers, and producers, you will implement robust AI systems that improve game quality and player engagement. Your work will ensure our AI is of outstanding quality and provides the best experience for our players.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D efforts for game bots using machine learning, reinforcement learning, and neural networks to create realistic agent behaviors.
• Design, implement, and maintain gameplay-focused AI frameworks, including Utility AI systems, directly within the game engine.
• Collaborate with gameplay teams and designers to translate creative vision into technical specifications and scalable AI solutions.
• Develop and program algorithms to structure and analyze gameplay data to improve bot performance and decision-making.
• Optimize AI systems and data pipelines to ensure high performance and stability across consoles and dedicated servers.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in data science, machine learning engineering, or gameplay programming within the games industry.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and Python for both engine-level implementation and algorithmic development.
• Hands-on experience with reinforcement learning, supervised/unsupervised learning, and AI architectures like Utility AI.
• Experience with large-scale computing frameworks, big-data techniques, and building scalable data pipelines.
• Solid foundation in mathematics, statistics, and optimization theory applied to game AI and machine learning.
• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Pay Transparency - North America

Compensation And Benefits

PAY RANGES

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$141,400 - $204,400 CAD
• California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$165,000 - $256,000 USD

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

• Paid time off (3 weeks per year to start)
• 80 hours per year of sick time
• 16 paid company holidays per year
• 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) to regular full-time employees
• Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.

• 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.