Senior Gameplay AI Engineer - Craft Smart NPCs

PUBG; San Ramon (CA); On-site; USD 138,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Striking Distance Studios is seeking a Senior AI Engineer to join a cross-disciplinary team and implement gameplay AI features and systems. You will work with designers to prototype AI behaviours, implement enemies and NPCs, and integrate AI with gameplay systems.

The role requires advanced C++, Unreal Engine expertise, and strong 3D math skills. You will contribute to navigation, perception, and decision-making systems, while mentoring peers and maintaining technical design docs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer science, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of games industry experience, preferably 3+ years in a similar role.
• 3+ years of experience with Unreal Engine.
• Experience shipping games on current generation consoles and PC.
• Strong self-direction, focus, and attention to detail.
• Advanced C++ and AI tooling knowledge (blueprints, decision trees).
• Excellent navigation, pathfinding, and 3D math skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Build, refactor and maintain robust AI features across game systems.
• Prototype and implement AI behaviours to empower gameplay fun.
• Implement enemies, NPCs, and AI-managed characters.
• Integrate AI systems with gameplay engineers and other teams.
• Optimize perception and decision-making systems for performance.
• Develop navigation and pathfinding systems and debug AI issues.
• Integrate and maintain AI middleware across platforms.
• Review code and mentor teammates in AI areas.
• Create and maintain technical design documents.
• Tackle existing systems and own legacy code as needed.
• Stay current on AI tech and advancements.
• Collaborate on technical design and feature rollout.

Skills

Unreal Engine

C++

AI decision making

3D math

BluePrints

Navigation & pathfinding

Verbal & written communication

Self-directed

Education

Bachelor's degree in software engineering or computer science

Tools

Unreal Engine tools

Job description

Striking Distance Studios is seeking a Senior AI Engineer to join a cross-disciplinary team and implement gameplay AI features and systems. You will work with designers to prototype AI behaviours, implement enemies and NPCs, and integrate AI with gameplay systems.

The role requires advanced C++, Unreal Engine expertise, and strong 3D math skills. You will contribute to navigation, perception, and decision-making systems, while mentoring peers and maintaining technical design docs.