Lead Gameplay Engineer (Fully Remote)

Escape Velocity; United States; Remote; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Escape Velocity, a fully remote game development studio, seeks a senior gameplay engineer to drive technical direction for core systems from prototype to ship. You will architect player movement, traversal, and camera work with Design and Animation, while owning performance and stability through hands-on C++ and Blueprint work.

Leading around five engineers, you’ll mentor, conduct 1:1s, and influence hiring.

Qualifications

• Shipped 3C systems and AAA titles through full development cycles or live-service post-launch.
• Strong game C++ with performance, memory management, and low-level profiling expertise.
• Proven cross-discipline communication and a data-driven, design-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Drive technical direction for weapons, mobility, and camera systems from prototype to ship.
• Architect character movement, traversal, and camera systems with Design and Animation teams.
• Own performance and stability of team systems via hands-on C++ and Blueprint development.
• Manage around five direct reports, including mentorship, 1:1s, performance review, and hiring.
• Set and uphold engineering standards: code review, build stability, testing, and documentation.
• Champion agentic workflows, automation, and test-driven development while keeping human review central.

Skills

C++

Blueprints

Team leadership

Performance optimization

Memory management

Profiling

Cross-disciplinary communication

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

• Drive technical direction for weapons, mobility, and camera systems from prototype to ship.
• Architect character movement, traversal, and camera systems with Design and Animation teams.
• Own performance and stability of your team's systems via hands-on C++ and Blueprint development.

Team Management:

• Manage around five direct reports, including mentorship, 1:1s, performance, career growth, and hiring.
• Set and uphold engineering standards: code review, build stability, testing, and documentation.
• Champion agentic workflows, automation, and test-driven development while keeping human review central.

What You Bring:

• Shipped 3C systems and AAA titles through full development cycles or live-service post-launch.
• Strong game C++ with performance, memory management, and low-level profiling expertise.
• Proven cross-discipline communication and a data-driven, design-focused mindset.

Escape Velocity is a fully remote game development studio that values player and teammate time, energy, and talent, focusing on rewarding, worthwhile work. We are a passionate team with a committed publisher, offering excellent benefits and a culture of play, autonomy, and constant improvement.