Gameplay Engineer – Studio Sirens

Snail Games USA•Loveland, CO

3h•$118,000 - $142,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Founded in 2024 under Snail Games, Studio Sirens is a development team focused on prototyping innovative gameplay systems, crafting bold new IP, and co-development projects. Blending technical precision with narrative ambition, the studio brings immersive worlds to life through a gameplay-first approach, supporting major releases while forging its own creative path within the Snail Games portfolio. We recently released an expansion for an existing UE5 product; the next phase is to transition the expansion into a fully-fledged standalone product. We are seeking a Gameplay Engineer with strong Unreal Engine experience to support the transition effort from expansion-based integration to an independent, stand-alone, commercial game experience. This role focuses on implementing improvements to gameplay systems, assisting with architectural adjustments required for independent operation, and contributing to stability and polish as the title transitions into a standalone product. You will work closely with senior engineers and designers to support targeted efforts to improve the player onboarding experience and balance gameplay to broaden audience accessibility while preserving the IP’s core identity. The ideal candidate is fluent in both C++ and Blueprints, understands best practices, and thrives in a collaborative, fast‑moving production environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
4+ years of professional gameplay engineering experience with Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
Proven experience developing gameplay systems using both C++ and Blueprints.
Strong understanding of software design patterns, clean architecture, and scalable system design.
Understanding of memory management, performance considerations, and responsible use of computing resources.
Demonstrated ability to create modular, extensible gameplay systems.
Experience collaborating closely with others on shared goals, including designers and artists, in a production environment.
Strong debugging and profiling skills across gameplay and engine-level systems within complex production codebases.
Must be able to work in a hybrid role in Colorado.
Demonstrated ability to receive feedback, iterate quickly, and contribute constructively within a collaborative team environment.
Understanding of multiplayer games, replication, and client‑server architectures.

Nice To Haves

Experience shipping a game in Unreal Engine.
Familiarity with the full software development lifecycle.
Experience with Perforce or similar version control systems.
Familiarity with Ark Modkit workflows or similar mod-based development environments.
Knowledge of network‑aware Blueprint practices and multiplayer gameplay patterns.
Experience working within an established codebase and refactoring existing systems.
Familiarity with survival, or sandbox-oriented gameplay.

Responsibilities

Support the architectural transition of an existing UE5 expansion into a standalone product.
Implement gameplay systems and features in Unreal Engine 5 using C++ and Blueprints, ensuring code quality and maintainability.
Refactor core gameplay systems to function independently as a standalone product.
Implement product improvements under direction from senior engineering leadership and design.
Collaborate with art, design, engineering, and QA to ensure gameplay systems align with creative and technical goals.
Define, document, and uphold engineering best practices across C++ and Blueprint workflows to ensure maintainability, clarity, and performance.
Debug, profile, and resolve complex gameplay and performance issues across the stack to ensure shipping-readiness for a standalone release.
Diagnose and address technical debt exposed during system separation and refactoring.
Maintain clear documentation of architectural changes and system boundaries.
Participate in playtesting, iteration cycles, and cross-discipline collaboration.