Remote Lead Gameplay Programmer (Unreal/C++)

Placements24; Soweto; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work flexibility

Stock options

Health insurance

Flexible hours

Career growth

Job summary

Placements24, a game development studio, seeks an experienced Lead Game Programmer (Gameplay Focus) to define and implement core gameplay mechanics. You will lead a team of programmers, mentor juniors, and ensure scalable, high-performance code across engines like Unreal and Unity.

You will drive technical decisions, collaborate with designers and artists, and shape the future of ambitious projects while benefiting from remote work flexibility and a collaborative studio culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 8 years in game programming with 3+ in lead/senior roles.
• Expert proficiency in C++ and engine experience (Unreal/Unity).
• Strong understanding of gameplay systems: AI, physics, input, game state management.
• Proven ability to design scalable, robust gameplay architectures.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of gameplay programmers.
• Design, implement, and optimize core gameplay systems and mechanics.
• Architect scalable, maintainable codebases across engines.
• Collaborate with designers, artists, and engineers to realize gameplay vision.
• Drive technical decisions and best practices within the team.
• Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks and technical challenges.
• Contribute to planning and estimation of programming tasks.
• Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback.
• Stay current with game development tech and C++ trends.
• Ensure quality and stability of core gameplay systems.

Skills

Leadership

C++ expertise

Gameplay programming

Problem solving

Communication

Debugging

Team mentorship

Software architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Git

Perforce

Job description

Placements24, a game development studio, seeks an experienced Lead Game Programmer (Gameplay Focus) to define and implement core gameplay mechanics. You will lead a team of programmers, mentor juniors, and ensure scalable, high-performance code across engines like Unreal and Unity.

You will drive technical decisions, collaborate with designers and artists, and shape the future of ambitious projects while benefiting from remote work flexibility and a collaborative studio culture.