Gameplay Engineering Lead

Epic Games; Cary (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% premium coverage for medical, dental, and vision

Unlimited PTO

Paid sabbatical after 7 years

Robust mental well-being program

Job summary

Epic Games, based in Cary, NC, is seeking a Lead Gameplay Programmer to drive innovative projects and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams. In this role, you will shape core gameplay features, ensuring technical excellence while fostering team development.

The ideal candidate has strong leadership experience in engineering, a deep understanding of C++, and the ability to empathize with users. Epic offers comprehensive benefits, including health, unlimited PTO, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Experience leading engineering teams in a game development context.
• Strong understanding of gameplay systems and mechanics.
• Ability to assess and prioritize user experience in development.

Responsibilities

• Lead a project team, focusing on technical excellence and player experience.
• Guide and mentor team members to enhance their skills.
• Collaborate with teams to iterate on gameplay features.

Skills

C++ proficiency

Leadership in engineering roles

Game development experience

Analytical problem-solving

Teamwork and collaboration

Knowledge of Verse and Unreal Editor

Job description

ENGINEERING - GAMES

What We Do

Unreal projects have been leading the pack of real-time entertainment with our constantly growing team of engineering experts. We’re always improving on the tools and technology that empower content developers worldwide.

What You'll Do

We are a new and growing team at Epic, aiming to build innovative new experiences and technology as part of our collaboration with Disney. As a Lead Gameplay Programmer, you will be in a leadership role on a small and focused team, playing a critical role in driving current and future projects. You will be responsible for driving core gameplay features and supporting collaborative development between programmers, designers, and artists. You will have opportunities to work on a variety of initiatives, get hands‑on with cutting‑edge technologies, and work with talented internal and external teams, all while building impactful experiences from concept to delivery.

In this role, you will

• Lead development for a project or initiative, championing both technical excellence and player experience
• Guide, mentor, and help build a highly effective engineering team
• Work closely with art and design to create and iterate on gameplay features, while maintaining strong architectural and algorithmic direction
• Collaborate with Unreal Engine teams to contribute to ongoing feature development
• Optimize and fix bugs in existing systems
• Contribute ideas toward all aspects of the project’s production and development
• Write robust, maintainable code

What we're looking for

• Experience as a leader in an engineering role, with demonstrated ability to lead a team effectively
• Significant experience developing games or other interactive real‑time technology applications
• A keen analytical mind with creative problem‑solving skills and the ability to think outside the box
• Proficiency in C++ with a deep understanding of gameplay systems, mechanics, and tools
• The ability to empathize with users and to balance the inherent tradeoffs in developing with the user in mind
• Strong teamwork and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills, including the ability to deliver and respond to constructive feedback
• Knowledge of Verse and Unreal Editor for Fortnite is a plus

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well‑being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company‑wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.