Senior Game Engineer

Highstack; Town of Babylon (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Highstack is building the world’s first Creator Casino, a web-based game engine stack for 2D/3D experiences. We are seeking a Senior Game Engineer with deep mastery of the web graphics stack to architect game clients (Slots, Crash) and frontend UI.

You will work across TypeScript, PixiJS, Babylon.js, React, and a Nx monorepo to deliver modular, themeable engines with multi-tenant configurations and 60 FPS performance on desktop and mobile.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Game Development or Senior Frontend Engineering with a heavy focus on interactive graphics.
• Expert-level knowledge of TS and React 18/19, including hooks, context, and performance optimization patterns.
• Strong proficiency with PixiJS and/or Babylon.js; understanding shaders, lighting, and scene graph optimization.
• Experience implementing Spine and Rive into web runtimes.

Responsibilities

• Engine Development: Build and optimize lightweight, high-performance game clients using TypeScript, PixiJS, and Babylon.js.
• Hybrid UI Systems: Develop sophisticated game HUDs and betting interfaces using React, ensuring seamless communication between the React state and the Game Canvas.
• Dynamic Animation: Integrate Spine for skeletal animation and Rive for interactive UI components and transitions.
• State & Logic: Implement robust game state machines and manage client-side state with Zustand or similar, handling real-time outcomes via GraphQL subscriptions.
• Asset Pipeline: Architect an efficient asset loading system (Vite-based) supporting dynamic skinning and multi-tenant configurations.
• Performance Engineering: Optimize draw calls and memory usage while minimizing React re-renders for 60 FPS on mobile and desktop.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Work within an Nx monorepo to package games as Micro-Frontends, integrating with Qwik host and shared components.
• Reliability & Trust: Ensure frame-perfect synchronization and robust reconnection handling.

Skills

TypeScript

React 18/19

PixiJS

Babylon.js

WebGL

Shaders

Game physics

Animation

Tools

Vite

PNPM

Nx

Job description

We’re building the world’s first Creator Casino: a creator-powered gaming network where influencers launch Rooms, run drops/missions, and monetize Originals built on top of certified game engines—powered by an AI Host layer and programmable incentives designed for high-frequency sessions and measurable creator performance.

We are currently in stealth mode, focusing on building the core engine that will power a new category of community-driven entertainment.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Game Engineer with deep mastery of the web graphics stack and modern frontend frameworks. You will be a founding member of the game engineering team, responsible for architecting 2D and 3D game clients (Slots, Crash, and original mechanics).

This role requires a unique hybrid: you must be able to write high-performance WebGL code in PixiJS/Babylon.js while simultaneously building the reactive UI layers, betting controls, and HUDs in React. You aren't just building a game; you are building a modular, themeable engine designed for rapid deployment and community-led customization.

Responsibilities

Engine Development: Build and optimize lightweight, high-performance game clients using TypeScript, PixiJS, and Babylon.js.

Hybrid UI Systems: Develop sophisticated game HUDs and betting interfaces using React, ensuring seamless communication between the React state and the Game Canvas.

Dynamic Animation: Integrate Spine for complex character rigging and Rive for interactive, state-driven UI components and transitions.

State & Logic: Implement robust game state machines and manage client-side state using Zustand or similar, handling real-time outcomes via GraphQL subscriptions.

Asset Pipeline: Architect an efficient asset loading system (Vite-based) that supports dynamic "skinning" and multi-tenant configurations.

Performance Engineering: Optimize draw calls and memory usage while minimizing React re-renders to ensure 60 FPS performance across mobile and desktop.

Cross-Functional Integration: Work within an Nx monorepo to package games as Micro-Frontends, ensuring they play nicely with our Qwik host and shared component libraries.

Reliability & Trust: Ensure game clients accurately represent server-side logic with frame-perfect synchronization and robust reconnection handling.

Required Skills & Experience

5+ years of experience in Game Development or Senior Frontend Engineering with a heavy focus on interactive graphics.

TypeScript & React Mastery: Expert-level knowledge of TS and React 18/19, including hooks, context, and performance optimization patterns.

2D/3D Expertise: Strong proficiency with PixiJS and/or Babylon.js. You should understand shaders, lighting, and scene graph optimization.

Animation Pipelines: Experience implementing Spine (Skeletal Animation) and Rive (State Machines) into web runtimes.

Modern Tooling: Deep familiarity with Vite, PNPM, and monorepo workflows (Nx).

Math & Logic: Comfortable with game math (interpolation, easing, basic probability) and handling high-precision numerical data for real-money transactions.

Web Standards: Solid understanding of CSS-in-JS or Tailwind CSS for styling game-adjacent UI.

Nice to Have

iGaming/Fintech Experience: Previous experience building regulated games (Slots, Table Games) or "Provably Fair" systems.

GLSL Shaders: Ability to write custom shaders for specialized visual effects and particles.

Infrastructure: Familiarity with Cloudflare Workers and edge-side computing.

Micro-Frontends: Experience with Module Federation, Web Fragments, or similar composition patterns.