Gameplay Engineering Lead

Epic Games; North Carolina; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401k with company match

Unlimited PTO

Sabbatical after 7 years

Mental health program

Job summary

Epic Games is seeking a Lead Gameplay Programmer to guide a focused team transforming Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) gameplay technology toward Unreal Engine 6 (UE6). You’ll lead development, mentor engineers, and collaborate with product design and other studios to deliver robust, scalable code and improved tooling across the Unreal ecosystem.

You will drive technical excellence while fostering a collaborative environment, shaping future gameplay systems, and

Qualifications

• Significant experience developing games with Unreal Engine.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor an engineering team.
• Proactive leadership with strong communication and feedback culture.
• Deep understanding of the creator ecosystem and tooling for developers.

Responsibilities

• Lead development for a project or initiative within UE5/UE6 trajectory.
• Mentor and grow a high-performing engineering team.
• Collaborate with product design to shape gameplay APIs and tools.
• Coordinate with Unreal Engine / Fortnite teams on feature development.
• Optimize, refactor, and fix bugs in existing systems; write robust code.
• Contribute ideas across production and development of the project.
• Leverage AI to enhance daily workflows and team output.

Skills

Unreal Engine

Leadership

C++

Gameplay systems

Tools

UEFN

Roblox Studio

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

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

Part of the Unreal Engine Gameplay department, you will lead a team of experienced programmers aimed at transforming Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) gameplay technology toward Unreal Engine 6 (UE6) based on Scene Graph and Verse.

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 transformative changes and supporting collaborative development between programmers, UEFN developers, and licensees. 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 technology that affects thousands of game developers and millions of gamers.

In this role, you will

• Lead development for a project or initiative, championing both technical excellence and developer experience

• Guide, mentor, and help build a highly effective engineering team

• Work closely with product design to create and iterate on gameplay API and tools, while maintaining strong architectural and algorithmic direction

• Collaborate with Unreal Engine or Fortnite teams to contribute to ongoing feature development

• Optimize, refactor, and fix bugs in existing systems, and write robust, maintainable code

• Contribute ideas toward all aspects of the project’s production and development

• Leverage AI to enhance your daily work and empower your team.

What we're looking for

• Significant experience developing games with Unreal Engine

• Experience as a leader in an engineering role, with demonstrated ability to lead a team effectively

• Demonstrates proactive, courageous leadership: speaks up, challenges assumptions respectfully, communicates directly, and creates an environment where honest feedback is welcomed.

• Deep understanding of the creator ecosystem, including game engines such as Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) or Roblox Studio, and the unique challenges of building tools, workflows, and platforms that empower developers rather than shipping a game directly.

• 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

• Strong teamwork and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills, including the ability to deliver and respond to constructive feedback

• Knowledge of Scene Graph and Verse 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.

ABOUT US

Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.

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.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.