Lead Gameplay Developer

We’re hiring a Lead Gameplay Developer to own the technical design and implementation of core gameplay systems for a large-scale, live-service multiplayer game built in Unreal Engine 5. This is a senior leadership role for someone who can architect foundational systems, mentor engineers, and shape how the game feels and performs for years to come.

About the role...

In this role, you’ll report to the CTO and lead a growing team of gameplay engineers. You’ll stay hands-on with C++ and Blueprint implementation while setting technical direction across combat, traversal, abilities, progression, and multiplayer systems.

The project is in early production, meaning core gameplay systems are still being architected and prototyped. You’ll make key technical decisions that define scalability, performance, and gameplay feel within a persistent online environment.

What you’ll do:

People leadership and team development

• Lead and mentor a growing team of gameplay engineers
• Set priorities, assign work, and balance workload across production cycles
• Run regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and development plans
• Represent gameplay engineering in cross-discipline planning and resourcing discussions
• Establish a culture of clean code, technical rigour, and collaborative problem-solving
• Support hiring, including technical assessments and interviews

Gameplay systems and implementation7

• Architect and implement core gameplay systems in Unreal Engine 5
• Build systems for combat, traversal, player abilities, interaction, and progression
• Design gameplay systems for multiplayer and persistent online environments
• Implement server-authoritative logic, client prediction, and state replication
• Collaborate with design to build extensible systems that allow rapid iteration
• Work hands-on in C++ and Blueprint, profiling and refining systems
• Integrate gameplay systems with animation, VFX, UI, and audio layers

Technical architecture and performance

• Define coding standards, architecture patterns, and review processes
• Ensure maintainable, scalable gameplay code as features expand
• Profile and optimise for MMO-scale performance (replication, bandwidth, tick budgets, memory)
• Partner with online services and network engineers to ensure reliability under latency and server load
• Use playtests and telemetry data to improve gameplay feel, responsiveness, and fairness
• Contribute to milestone planning, sprint scoping, and capacity forecasting

What we’re looking for:

Experience

• 7+ years in game development
• At least one shipped title in a gameplay engineering or gameplay lead role
• 2+ years of direct people management experience
• Proven experience delivering multiplayer or online gameplay systems

Technical skills

• Strong C++ proficiency in Unreal Engine
• Experience with Unreal replication systems and Blueprint integration
• Experience building scalable gameplay systems for multiplayer environments
• Strong understanding of server authority, client prediction, and state synchronisation
• Ability to translate design concepts into extensible and performant systems

Collaboration

• Strong communication skills across design, art, animation, audio, and network teams
• Experience documenting systems and establishing technical standards

Nice to have:

• Experience shipping an MMO or persistent online world
• Deep experience with Unreal’s Gameplay Ability System (GAS)
• Familiarity with AI systems for NPC behaviours and encounter scripting
• Experience with data-driven gameplay systems
• Awareness of anti-cheat and exploit mitigation in online games

Why join:

• Shape the core gameplay foundation of a live-service multiplayer title
• High ownership in early production with long-term technical impact
• Remote-first culture with autonomy and collaborative leadership
• Opportunity to build and grow a gameplay engineering team

If you’re a senior Unreal gameplay engineer who enjoys architecting multiplayer systems, mentoring teams, and shaping the feel of a game from the ground up, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now, or email Jack Baxter - jb@skillearch.com