Job description
Join NebulaForge Games, a premier studio crafting immersive sci-fi experiences for PC and consoles. We're seeking a Senior Gameplay Programmer to lead the development of core gameplay systems across platforms and to mentor a growing team of engineers.
You will partner with designers, artists, and producers to translate bold concepts into polished, responsive player experiences. This role blends technical leadership with hands-on coding to ship features on time and with high quality.
What we offer: competitive salary, equity options, strong health benefits, flexible hybrid work in Austin, and a culture that values collaboration, learning, and ownership.
Responsibility
- Lead the design and implementation of core gameplay systems using Unreal Engine or Unity, including player movement, combat, abilities, and HUD integrations.
- Collaborate with designers to translate gameplay concepts into fast, reliable code and maintain a playable, delightful experience across platforms.
- Mentor and review code from junior engineers; promote coding standards, testing, and performance optimization.
- Profile, diagnose, and optimize CPU/GPU performance; manage memory and asset streaming for smooth frame rates.
- Implement networking and replication features for multiplayer experiences; ensure robust state synchronization and security.
- Coordinate with QA, build, and release teams to deliver features on schedule; maintain clear documentation and tooling.
Qualification
- 5+ years of gameplay programming experience with C++ or C# in shipping titles.
- Strong experience with Unreal Engine (preferred) or Unity; familiarity with shader programming and toolchains.
- Proven track record of shipping at least one title and delivering features from concept to ship.
- Solid understanding of multithreading, ECS (if applicable), optimization, and profiling tools.
- Experience with networking, replication, and client-server architecture for multiplayer experiences.
- BS or MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- Excellent communication skills and a collaborative, mentorship-oriented mindset.