Gameplay Engineer

Gardens; California; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, dental, and vision coverage (

Life insurance

401(k) contributions

Paid parental leave

Fully distributed remote studio across

Job summary

Gardens Interactive is seeking a Gameplay Engineer to design and implement immersive gameplay systems in Unreal using C++ and Blueprints. You will partner with designers to realize their vision and ensure scalable, iterative development across multiplayer experiences.

You will own the technical architecture for multiple features, advocate for tactile game feel, and collaborate with design, art, and animation to realize the game's vision while proactively addressing issues and performance

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience building game mechanics.
• Expertise in Unreal Engine gameplay frameworks (character/camera controllers, behavior trees, blackboard, GAS).
• Strong understanding of Unreal's multiplayer, replication and RPCs.
• Clear communication and collaboration; ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and implementation of multiple gameplay features with design and production.
• Develop flexible, scalable systems designed for iterative development that enable emergent gameplay.
• Collaborate with design, art and animation to align with game vision and provide technical perspective.
• Identify and triage issues to improve game system stability and reduce development friction.

Skills

Unreal Engine

C++

Blueprints

Gameplay mechanics

Multiplayer

Job description

At Gardens Interactive, we're building games centered on connection, collective adventure, and emergent stories. We believe the spirit with which we build games is reflected in the experiences our players have. The way we collaborate, solve problems, navigate uncertainty, and care for one another ultimately shapes the worlds we create. We're creating magical, shared experiences that bring players together and we know those experiences come from teams that are curious, resilient, ambitious, and deeply committed to one another.

We're a fully remote studio that embraces collaboration, thoughtful iteration, and the courage to explore new ideas. If you're excited by ambiguity, enjoy solving difficult problems with kind, talented teammates, and want to help build worlds where friendships flourish, we'd love to meet you.

As a Gameplay Engineer, you will craft tactile and immersive gameplay systems that will fuel the adventure and enable the stories within our games. You will partner with designers to understand the vision and intent behind game features, realize those features in Unreal using C++ and Blueprints, and apply your architectural expertise to enable the iterative development and evolution of our game. You will be a key player in connecting our players to the game world and enabling them to explore, interact and create memorable multiplayer moments.

A Day in the Life:

• Apply your expertise with the Unreal Engine (C++ and Blueprints) to own the implementation of gameplay mechanics in close collaboration with the design team.
• Develop flexible, scalable systems designed for iterative development that facilitate emergent game interactions.
• Playtest regularly with the team to prototype new ideas and ensure gameplay is progressing in accordance with our game’s pillars.

What You’ll Do:

• Own the technical architecture and implementation of multiple gameplay features across the game, partnering closely with design and production to achieve creative intent and balance development prioritization.
• Advocate for excellence in tactile, immersive game feel across the project and the studio.
• Collaborate closely with design, art and animation to align with game vision and provide technical expertise and perspective on decisions and alternatives.
• Contribute to the stability of the game by proactively assisting in the identification and triage of issues in game systems, collaborating on solutions, and identifying and reducing friction in the development process.

What You’ll Bring:

• 5+ years of experience building game mechanics across one or more projects.
• Deep expertise in Unreal’s gameplay frameworks, including character/camera controllers, behavior trees, Blackboard and the Gameplay Ability System.
• Solid understanding of Unreal’s multiplayer framework, including replication RPCs, and the ability to incorporate the implications of a networked multiplayer environment into feature implementation.
• Clear communication, strong collaboration, and the judgment to work independently, recognize constraints, and seek support when needed.

Nice to Haves:

• Previous experience on shipped multiplayer titles using Unreal Engine.
• Prior experience owning the decision-making and implementation of significant portions of control/camera systems, NPC AI/behavior, combat or ability/action features in a multiplayer context.
• Experience profiling and optimizing gameplay systems for large-scale content.

The Team:

• You will report to the Lead Gameplay Engineer.
• You will join a team of gameplay engineers who work closely with other disciplines to champion the values that our games are centered on.

How We Work

We believe great games are built by people who care deeply about both the work and one another. Our values guide how we collaborate, solve problems, make decisions, and grow together. They're practical behaviors, not slogans, and they're part of how we hire, give feedback, and support one another every day.

We're looking for teammates who are excited to:

• Stay curious and ask thoughtful questions.
• Adapt when plans change.
• Exercise good judgment rather than chase perfection.
• Care for the success of the whole team, not just their own work.
• Pursue ambitious goals while remaining humble enough to keep learning.
• Commit fully to the shared adventure we're building together.

You’ll Thrive Here If...

• You enjoy asking questions before jumping to conclusions.
• You adapt comfortably when priorities evolve.
• You balance ambition with pragmatism.
• You communicate thoughtfully and seek feedback.
• You care about helping your teammates succeed.
• You embrace uncertainty as part of creating something new.

Please Note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States or Canada. Gardens cannot assist with work authorizations or work visas. Applicants must also be willing to work within North American time zones (EST–PST).

Our Interview Process

(all interviews are 1 hour video calls on Google Meet unless otherwise noted)

• Step 1: People Operations Introduction
• Step 2: Hiring Manager Interview
• Step 3: Panel Interview (3 - 1 Hour Sections)
• Step 4: Gardeners Debrief
• Step 5: Offer

Life at Gardens

Gardens is a fully distributed game studio founded by creators behind titles including Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Blaseball, Dustforce, Ashen, Guild Wars 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and more.

We're developing our flagship project: a multiplayer fantasy adventure inspired by the friendships, discoveries, and unforgettable stories that emerge when people explore together.

We believe the best ideas come from teams with diverse experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. Every Gardener helps shape not only what we build, but how we build it.

Each of us arrives by a different path, bringing unique experiences, perspectives, and ways of seeing the world. That range is part of what makes our games and our studio better than any one of us could build alone.

Gardens Offers:

• Competitive salaries and pay transparency
• Stock options
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (100% for individuals, 90% for dependents)
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and additional benefits
• 401(k) contributions (U.S.) / RRSP + DPSP contributions (Canada)
• Paid parental leave
• A fully distributed remote studio across North American time zones

Benefits and perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Gardens and the country in which you work.

Physical Requirements:

This is a primarily sedentary, remote role requiring the ability to remain stationary and perform computer-based work for extended periods, including sustained use of monitors, keyboards, mice, and game controllers for a minimum of six hours per day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. Gardens is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Encouragement:

We believe that diverse perspectives make our team stronger and our games better. If you're excited about this role but don't meet every single qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Research consistently shows that talented people, particularly women, people of color, and those from historically underrepresented communities are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. We care far more about curiosity, growth, and a willingness to learn than checking every box.

Scam Note:

Unfortunately, scammers have impersonated Gardens Interactive by offering fake employment opportunities intended to collect financial information.

Official communication from our team will always come from a @gardens.dev email address. We will never ask for financial information during the hiring process.

If you're ever unsure whether a message is legitimate, please contact us directly through LinkedIn or [e-mail]