Principal Game AI Engineer

Ghost Story Games; Massachusetts; Remote; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Equity

Medical benefits

Job summary

Ghost Story Games seeks a Principal Game AI Engineer to finalize and polish AI behaviors for Judas. You will own shipping-ready AI systems and work closely with design and animation to craft believable, compelling enemy behavior.

You bring Unreal Engine expertise, strong C++, and a proven track record of shipping AAA titles. This remote Massachusetts role offers competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, including bonus and equity where applicable.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience with Unreal Engine 4/5.
• Deep knowledge of modern game AI architecture (Behavior Trees, pathfinding, perception).
• Experience with modern animation techniques (root motion, distance matching, motion warping, blend spaces, state machines).
• Strong knowledge of C++ and software engineering practices.
• At least one shipped title focusing on game AI, preferably AAA in action/FPS.
• Ability to quickly understand and extend existing code architectures.

Responsibilities

• Own the implementation, hardening, and polish of AI behaviors and systems to shipping quality.
• Collaborate with design, animation, and other disciplines to iterate on AI features.
• Ensure reliability and stability of critical AI systems and behaviors.

Skills

Unreal Engine

Game AI architecture

Animation techniques

C++

AAA title experience

Code understanding

Tools

Unreal Engine (tool)

Blueprints

Job description

Who We Are

Ghost Story Games is a self-publishing game development studio founded by Ken Levine (Creative Director of System Shock 2, Bioshock, and Bioshock Infinite) and former Irrational Games developers. The studio’s mission is to create narrative-driven experiences rooted in immersive world building and gameplay.

Who We Are

Ghost Story Games is a self-publishing game development studio founded by Ken Levine (Creative Director of System Shock 2, Bioshock, and Bioshock Infinite) and former Irrational Games developers. The studio’s mission is to create narrative-driven experiences rooted in immersive world building and gameplay.

The Challenge

Ghost Story Games is seeking a talented remote Principal Game AI Engineer to join us on Judas, the highly anticipated game led by Ken Levine (System Shock 2, BioShock series). Unique in its bold, creative vision, Judas is also built upon novel technology by which the visual world, gameplay, and story unfolds in meaningful, dynamic ways. The result is a significant and personal journey adapted to each player’s experience and offers a new approach to the art and storytelling of video games.

We are seeking a Principal Game AI Engineer to focus on the finalization and polish of our AI behaviors and systems. In this critical role, you will take ownership of bringing our AI systems to a "shipping-ready" state, ensuring the enemies within Judas react and behave in believable, compelling ways. Beyond technical implementation, you are expected to work closely with our design and animation teams to tune these systems and guarantee the best possible player experience.

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of shipping games as an AI Game Engineer, pairing strong technical abilities with a deep passion for player experience.

What You’ll Take On

• You will own the implementation, hardening, and polish of AI behaviors and systems to shipping quality.
• You will collaborate closely with design, animation, and other disciplines to iterate on AI features, ensuring they support the creative vision and deliver an exceptional player experience.
• You will ensure the quality and stability of critical AI systems, taking responsibility for delivering highly reliable behaviors.

What You Bring

• Extensive Unreal Engine 4 and/or Unreal Engine 5 experience.
• Deep experience with modern game AI architecture (Behavior Trees, pathfinding, perception systems)
• Experience with modern animation techniques like root motion, distance matching, motion warping, blend spaces, and state machines
• Strong knowledge of C++
• At least one shipped title working primarily on game AI, preferably a AAA title in the action and/or FPS genre
• Ability to quickly understand existing code and enhance/extend an existing architecture

Great To Have

• Experience with closing down heavily dynamic and/or procedural systems.
• Support build automation processes as needed.
• C#/Python/Blueprint experience.

The pay range for this position in Massachusetts at the start of employment is expected to be between $180,000 and $210,000 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an ~at-will position~ and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

As an equal opportunity employer, Ghost Story Games, LLC (“Ghost Story”) is committed to fostering and celebrating the diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds of its talent, partners, and communities throughout its organization. Consistent with this commitment, Ghost Story does not discriminate or retaliate against any employee or job applicant because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, and genetic information (including family medical history), or on the basis of any other trait protected by applicable law. If you need to report a concern or have questions regarding Ghost Story’s equal opportunity commitment, please contact [e-mail].