Senior Gameplay Engineer

2K; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 108,900 - 161,160; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid holidays

Paid vacation

Sick days

Parental leave

Wellbeing programs

401(k) plan

Employee Stock Purchase Program

Job summary

2K is seeking a Senior Gameplay Engineer to develop our Player Bots—AI agents that stand in for human players in our AAA free-to-play, cross-platform title. You will design and implement combat AI, humanization, and macro behaviors using C++, Unreal Engine 5, and our in-house utilities.

You will optimize performance for large bot populations, extend the utility AI framework, collaborate with design, and validate behaviors through playtests.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of gameplay or game AI engineering on shipped action games.
• Strong C++ and Unreal Engine fluency, including AI controllers, navigation, and EQS.
• Utility AI or comparable decision-making architectures.
• AI in networked multiplayer: client/server authority, prediction, dedicated servers.
• Humanlike combat AI: aim and error models, reaction time, believable movement.
• Optimizing many concurrent agents: LOD and tick throttling.

Responsibilities

• Develop combat behavior: target prioritization, hero-appropriate weapon and ability use, movement, and disengagement
• Develop humanization: tunable aim, reaction time, and error models across difficulty levels
• Develop macro behavior: team cohesion, traversal, pacing, events, looting, and progression
• Extend our utility AI framework: new behaviors, scoring, and tuning
• Keep bot populations performant: throttling, suspension, and LOD
• Extend bots as automated test clients, from feature tests to match-scale load tests
• Build bot evaluation tooling: debug visualization and playtest metrics
• Partner with design to tune behavior through playtests

Skills

C++

Unreal Engine

AI programming

Gameplay AI

Networking

Tools

EQS

Gameplay Ability System

StateTree

Job description

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and inspired by a culture of inclusivity to build amazing games that thrill players everywhere. We pursue growth and innovation in an environment of safety and trust. Our culture is built on the belief that the more varied voices in our collective will strengthen our team and our games. We are looking for our next teammate who will raise our bar and make us better.

What we need:

31st Union is looking for a Senior Gameplay Engineer to develop our Player Bots — AI agents that stand in for human players in our AAA free-to-play, cross-platform action game. Using C++, Unreal Engine 5, and our in-house utility AI framework, you will make bots that fight, traverse, loot, and team up convincingly enough that players second-guess whether they’re facing a human. The same bots power mode backfill and automated testing at scale.

Responsibilities:

• Develop combat behavior: target prioritization, hero-appropriate weapon and ability use, movement, and disengagement
• Develop humanization: tunable aim, reaction time, and error models across difficulty levels
• Develop macro behavior: team cohesion, traversal, pacing, events, looting, and progression
• Extend our utility AI framework: new behaviors, scoring, and tuning
• Keep bot populations performant: throttling, suspension, and LOD
• Extend bots as automated test clients, from feature tests to match-scale load tests
• Build bot evaluation tooling: debug visualization and playtest metrics
• Partner with design to tune behavior through playtests

Who you are:

• 5+ years of gameplay or game AI engineering on shipped action games
• Strong C++ and Unreal Engine fluency, including AI controllers, navigation, and EQS
• Utility AI or comparable decision-making architectures
• AI in networked multiplayer: client/server authority, prediction, dedicated servers
• Humanlike combat AI: aim and error models, reaction time, believable movement
• Optimizing many concurrent agents: LOD and tick throttling

Nice-to-Haves:

• Player bots in a competitive shooter
• Unreal Engine 5, StateTree, and the Gameplay Ability System
• Control systems (e.g., PID controllers) and input simulation
• Automated test clients and load testing

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $108,900 and $161,160 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 this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses. Ontario only: The use of Artificial Intelligence is not being used to screen candidates. The position is for an existing vacancy.

Are you local to the San Mateo, CA area (or open to relocation) and are willing to come into the office 3 days a week?

As part of our hiring process, 2K will conduct a pre-employment background check. We may also require written verification from your current employer that you have ended your employment.

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?

Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B, TN, etc.)? Responding “Yes” to this question will not preclude you from consideration for employment. "Sponsorship" includes any situation where the company must file a petition, application, or equivalent documentation to obtain or maintain your work authorization, including shifting from a student visa (like F-1 OPT or CPT) to an employer-sponsored status (like H-1B)

As part of 2K’s commitment to maintaining a workplace culture of inclusion and respect, we aim to find opportunities to improve our diversity and inclusion practices and resources. We hope that you will help us achieve this goal by voluntarily disclosing your demographic information.

Any information you provide will be confidential, kept securely, and will not be used to make any employment-related decisions. More information about how 2K handles your personal data is available at 2K privacy link.

Finally, as a reminder, 2K is an equal employment opportunity employer. 2K does not discriminate, harass, or retaliate against individuals based on any protected characteristic. If you have any questions about this policy, please connect with [e-mail] for support.

Thank you for your help!