Software Engineer, Gameplay, NPC - StarCraft | Irvine, CA

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) match

Paid holidays

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, CA is seeking a Gameplay Engineer, NPC to build NPC behaviors for StarCraft. You will design, implement, and iterate on gameplay systems that bring characters to life in a living world, collaborating across design, art, and engineering.

The role requires 5+ years of gameplay programming, strong C++ skills, and Unreal Engine expertise. This hybrid role includes on-site days at our Irvine studio and a passion for creating memorable player experiences.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of professional gameplay programming experience.
• Proficient in C++ software development for large-scale gameplay systems.
• Experience implementing gameplay features using Unreal Engine and collaborating with design and art teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain NPC gameplay systems and interactions.
• Implement scalable NPC gameplay features across diverse scenarios.
• Collaborate with designers, animators, artists, and engineers to deliver engaging NPC experiences.
• Develop tools and debugging workflows to streamline content creation.
• Optimize performance, stability, and maintainability of NPC systems.
• Partner with AI, animation, and gameplay teams to deliver polished character interactions.
• Prototype new features and evaluate through playtesting.

Skills

C++

Unreal Engine

NPC architecture

Gameplay systems

Cross-functional teamwork

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Team Name: StarCraft Job Title: Gameplay Engineer, NPC - StarCraft | Irvine, CA Requisition ID: R028141 Job Description: Your Mission Blizzard Entertainment is assembling a team to build the next chapter of StarCraft, returning to a universe forged in interstellar war. This mission offers something new: crafting an original story-driven, open-world shooter while honoring the legacy of one of Blizzard's most beloved games. We are here to reignite this universe alongside you. We are here to make StarCraft, and it's about damn time. We are looking for a Gameplay Engineer, NPC to help craft this new game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality NPC gameplay systems that create compelling player experiences and bring characters and creatures to life within a living world. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose. This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine studio.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain gameplay systems that power NPC behaviors and interactions.
• Implement scalable NPC gameplay features that support a wide variety of gameplay scenarios.
• Collaborate with designers, animators, artists, and engineers to create engaging NPC experiences.
• Develop tools, workflows, and debugging solutions that enable efficient content creation and iteration.
• Optimize and improve gameplay performance, stability, and maintainability of NPC systems.
• Partner with AI, animation, and gameplay teams to deliver polished character interactions and behaviors.
• Prototype new gameplay features and rapidly evaluate their effectiveness through iteration and playtesting.
• Investigate, diagnose, and resolve gameplay and NPC-related issues throughout development.
• Contribute to technical design discussions and help establish engineering best practices.
• Support a culture of collaboration, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement across disciplines.

Minimum Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of professional gameplay programming experience in the game industry.
• Experience developing gameplay systems using C++.
• Experience shipping or contributing to a commercial game title.
• Experience working closely with cross-functional development teams.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within teams and foster productive partnerships across all departments.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire colleagues through an enthusiastic approach to game development and a commitment to continuous improvement of core skills.
• Ability to take initiative and manage responsibilities independently, demonstrating strong ownership and accountability.
• Experienced and knowledgeable player of a wide range of games and able to use this expertise to enhance creative decisions in game development.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong proficiency in C++ software development.
• Experience implementing gameplay features in Unreal Engine.
• Understanding of NPC architecture, state machines, behavior systems, navigation, and character interactions.
• Experience debugging and optimizing gameplay systems in large-scale codebases.
• Knowledge of software engineering principles, including maintainability, scalability, and performance.
• Experience collaborating with design and content creation teams.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Key Attributes

• A passion for gameplay development and creating memorable player experiences.
• A team-oriented approach to solving technical and design challenges.
• A growth mindset and willingness to learn new technologies and development practices.
• The ability to balance technical excellence with practical development needs.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and attention to detail.

Extra Points

• Experience developing NPC, creature, or combat gameplay systems.
• Experience working on RPG, action RPG, or social gameplay experiences.
• Experience with networked simulation or multiplayer gameplay systems.
• Experience building developer-facing tools and workflows.
• Experience supporting live game development.
• Familiarity with animation systems and character pipelines.
• Portfolio, code samples, or shipped work that demonstrates gameplay engineering expertise.

Required Application Materials

• Resume
• Portfolio, code samples, or shipped game contributions demonstrating relevant experience.

Your Platform

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we've been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We're on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard secret recipe, but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision. If that sounds like you, join us. Our World Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners. We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide. Research shows that women and members of other underrepresented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification when, in fact, they often do. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

Rewards

• Medical
• dental
• vision
• health savings account or health reimbursement account
• healthcare spending accounts
• dependent care spending accounts
• life and AD&D insurance
• disability insurance
• 401(k) with Company match
• tuition reimbursement
• charitable donation matching
• Paid holidays and vacation
• paid sick time
• floating holidays
• compassion and bereavement leaves
• parental leave
• Mental health & wellbeing programs
• fitness programs
• free and discounted games
• a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability
• legal service
• ID protection
• rental insurance
• others
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/. In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $38.08 - $70.44 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable. Blizzard Entertainment is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software. After establishing the Blizzard Entertainment label in 1994, the company quickly became one of the most popular and well-respected makers of computer games. By focusing on creating well-designed, highly enjoyable entertainment experiences, Blizzard Entertainment has maintained an unparalleled reputation for quality since its inception.