Lead Gameplay Engineer

Spark is looking for an experienced Lead Gameplay Engineer to join us in making a breakout hit based on an established console franchise. This is an opportunity for you to have a hand in creating a bold new take on 3rd Person Action/Horror. The Lead Gameplay Engineer must own the quality and goals of the engineering department and lead their group to accomplish their goals. The ideal candidate is an outstanding engineer with thorough knowledge of engineering principles and pipelines, possessing strong leadership skills, production-sensibilities, and the talent to produce and implement the highest quality work.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Tech, Game and Art Director to develop engineering goals and features that fulfill the requirements of the project’s game and visual design.
• Work with all departments on the scheduling and integration of the feature and gameplay mechanic development. Lead the integration of gameplay features with all departments to create compelling in-game experience and controls.
• Lead the gameplay engineering team to accomplish fun, engaging and high quality gameplay features.
• Drive the department to consistently meet project deadlines in a timely manner without compromising the integrity of the game.
• Develop and maintain network ready code to ensure that it meets multiplayer/coop functionality and requirements, including but not limited to client/server state replications, latency, synchronization, cheating, etc.
• Write well-architected, robust and maintainable code that meet the coding standards for all platforms with an eye towards usability for multiple games.
• Maintain code performance through profiling and optimization.
• Contribute innovative and original ideas towards all aspects of game production and development.
• Create tools, features and engine components as needed that meet the coding standards for all platforms.
• Work collaboratively with all levels of the development team, including active participation in Spark’s agile-development process. Cultivate a positive team dynamic, and exhibit a professional attitude by demonstrating a good balance between creativity and practical flexibility.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years experience.
• Bachelor of Science degree.
• Relevant published game credits.
• C/C++ proficiency and design skills.
• Excellent 3D skills and game programming experience.
• Knowledge of client/server multi-player architecture.
• Experience in the design and implementation of specialized game sub-systems.
• Comfortable working within and enhancing an established code framework.
• Ability to participate in gameplay design and implement design specifications.
• Creative, focused, results-oriented, self-motivated, resourceful problem-solver with excellent debugging and strong communications skills.
• An eye for detail and feel for good gameplay.
• Excellent communication, time-management and organizational skills. A strong ability to work across multiple disciplines to gather feedback and address cross-functional issues. Penchant for practical innovation and the ability to bring new ideas to the table.
• Passionate player of games with an ability to analyze competitive products for their strengths and weaknesses. Broad knowledge of titles and mechanics.

Preferred Skills

• Lead Gameplay Engineer experience on current generation product strongly preferred.
• Unreal Engine 3 experience strongly preferred.
• Agile development methodologies experience strongly preferred (SCRUM, RUP, XP, etc.).

• Applicants must be able to work at our Sherman Oaks, California studios and be authorized to work in the United States.
• Email only. No visits or phone calls, please.
• The Subject line of your email must reference the job title and your name, like this: Lead Gameplay Engineer: Last name, First name
• Include your resume as an email attachment, preferably as a PDF or in Word 2003 or later format. Include links to online portfolio if applicable.
• Make sure your resume also includes your name, address, phone, and email.
• Send email to eng-jobc0250@sparkunlimited.com

Download Spark Non-Disclosure Agreement