Principal Gameplay Programmer
1 day ago
Glasgow
Principal Gameplay Programmer This role is completely remote and offering a B2B contract Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Principal Gameplay Programmer to provide technical leadership and hands-on development for a AAA first-person extraction shooter in Unreal Engine 5. This role is responsible for defining gameplay architecture, guiding technical direction across combat and systems, and ensuring scalable, high-performance gameplay code that supports long-term live development. You will work closely with Design, Animation, AI, Network, and Production to shape moment-to-moment gameplay while mentoring senior and mid-level engineers. Key Responsibilities Gameplay Architecture & Leadership • Define and own the gameplay programming architecture for a large-scale UE5 project., • Establish best practices for gameplay systems, coding standards, and performance., • Lead technical decision-making for player mechanics, combat systems, and systemic gameplay., • Design and implement high-quality first-person gameplay systems, such as:, • Player movement and traversal, • Weapon handling, shooting mechanics, recoil, and ballistics, • Health, damage, armor, and progression systems, • Inventory, looting, and extraction mechanics, • Architect and implement network-ready gameplay systems using UE5’s networking model., • Ensure gameplay code is deterministic, performant, and secure., • Profile and optimize gameplay systems for CPU, memory, and network performance., • Ensure gameplay code scales to large maps, high player counts, and long sessions., • Partner closely with Designers to translate gameplay vision into robust systems., • Work with Animation and Technical Animation to support animation-driven gameplay., • Collaborate with AI, VFX, and Audio teams to deliver cohesive combat experiences. This studio is searching for someone who will has principal or leadership experience, and is comfortable operating as a hands-on developer on a brand new IP. If this sounds like something of interest, please reach out to me at with your CV.