Systems Engineer

Operative Games; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first culture

Equity

Competitive salary

Job summary

Operative Games is seeking a Systems Engineer hybrid role in the Los Angeles area to architect the core systems for narrative authoring and in-game story logic. You will design a data-driven event system, build authoring tools, and shape the backend data layer to support dynamic storytelling.

You will collaborate with writers, designers, and AI engineers to ensure seamless integration of content and runtime systems, while championing usability and rapid iteration in authoring pipelines for a

Responsibilities

• Architect a flexible, data-driven event system to trigger narrative content and track player state.
• Build simple, scalable authoring tools and templates for writers and designers.
• Design and implement the backend/database layer to manage narrative state, progression, and content.
• Collaborate with narrative designers, AI developers, and gameplay engineers for integration.
• Advocate for usability and quick iteration in authoring pipelines for non-technical users.
• Prototype features rapidly and iterate based on team feedback to support evolving storytelling.

Tools

Unreal Engine

Twine

Ink

Job description

About Us

Operative Games is pioneering a new frontier in narrative gaming—where stories are shaped in real-time by powerful AI systems and player choices. We’re building an authoring pipeline that empowers writers and designers to create rich, branching, and dynamic story worlds. To support that vision, we’re looking for a Systems Engineer to architect and implement the core systems that drive narrative authoring and in-game story logic.

The Role

As a Systems Engineer, you’ll be responsible for designing and building the technical foundations for our story logic, authoring tools, and narrative content systems. You’ll work closely with our writers, designers, and AI engineers to define how story events are authored, triggered, and tracked in-game. You’ll also help build a robust database layer and a modular event system that gives our narrative team the tools to tell expressive, reactive stories.

This is a hybrid role for a technical builder who’s also excited by the design side of interactive storytelling.

Key Responsibilities

• Event System Design: Architect a flexible, data-driven event system that can trigger narrative content, track player state, and support branching logic.
• Tool & Template Creation: Build simple, scalable authoring tools and templates that empower writers and designers to work directly in the system with minimal engineering support.
• Data Layer Architecture: Design and implement the backend/database layer to manage narrative state, player progression, and authored content.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with narrative designers, AI developers, and gameplay engineers to ensure seamless integration between authored content and runtime systems.
• Authoring UX: Advocate for usability and iteration speed in authoring pipelines, helping non-technical team members work effectively.
• Prototyping & Iteration: Rapidly prototype features and iterate based on team feedback to support evolving storytelling needs.

Bonus Points

• Experience with Twine, Ink, or other narrative scripting systems
• Familiarity with knowledge graphs, tagging systems, or runtime state management
• Background in procedural narrative, computational storytelling, or narrative AI
• Experience with Unreal Engine and/or custom editor tools
• A love of weird, experimental, or emergent storytelling formats

Why Join Us?

• Help invent the pipeline for next-generation AI-driven storytelling
• Work with a passionate team of creatives and engineers
• Competitive salary, equity, and benefits
• Remote-first culture with creative autonomy and flexibility