Senior AI Gameplay Programmer

Combat Waffle Studios Inc; Remote; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A game development company is looking for a Senior AI Gameplay Programmer to design and implement enemy AI systems for VR titles. The role requires strong Unreal Engine experience, 6+ years in game development, and the ability to work independently. You will be the primary engineer for AI, collaborating closely with various teams to ensure engaging gameplay. This ongoing contract role offers autonomy and the chance to contribute significantly to game design.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional game development experience.
• Proven experience building AI systems for enemies or NPCs.
• Ability to work independently and self-direct in a senior role.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement enemy AI systems for VR games.
• Build AI behaviors using C++ in Unreal Engine.
• Collaborate with designers and gameplay engineers.

Skills

Strong Unreal Engine experience

AI systems for enemies or NPCs

C++ programming

Game development experience

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Combat Waffle Studios is looking for a Senior AI Gameplay Programmer to own and build enemy AI systems for our VR titles. This is an ongoing contract role for someone who’s comfortable working independently, making strong technical decisions, and shipping real gameplay.

You’ll be joining an experienced dev team, but you’ll be the primary (and only) engineer focused on AI, with a lot of autonomy over how systems are designed and implemented.

What You’ll Do

• Design and implement enemy AI systems for VR games
• Build AI behaviors using C++ in Unreal Engine
• Collaborate with designers, gameplay engineers, and art to ensure AI feels fun, readable, and performant in VR
• Iterate on AI based on playtesting and feedback
• Own AI features end-to-end, from prototyping to production-ready systems

Must-Have Experience

• Strong Unreal Engine experience (this is non-negotiable)
• 6+ years of professional game development experience
• Proven experience building AI systems for enemies or NPCs
• Ability to work independently and self-direct in a senior role

Nice-to-Have (Not Required)

• Previous industry experience working on AI specifically for VR games
• Familiarity with common Unreal AI tools (Behavior Trees, EQS, etc.)

This Role Is a Good Fit If You:

• Are a highly motivated self-starter
• Enjoy owning a system rather than just contributing small pieces
• Are comfortable working with minimal handholding
• Like solving gameplay problems and making AI feel good, not just “correct”

Contract & Compensation

• Contractors do not receive structured benefits