Lead Engineer

Devoted Studios

8d•Remote

About The Position

Devoted Studios is a globally remote game development company specializing in Co-development, Porting, and End-to-End Art Production for the global gaming industry. We collaborate across time zones to support projects on all major platforms, engines and styles - from AAA titles to emerging technologies. Our team includes world-class talents who bring deep expertise in external development, pipeline optimization, and creative problem-solving. Whether it’s porting games to new systems, enhancing gameplay features, or crafting stunning visuals, Devoted Studios operates as a trusted, flexible extension of our partners’ internal teams. We are seeking a Lead Engineer who will be the engineering player-coach on a live client engagement: still hands-on in C++ and Unreal, but setting the approach, mentoring the engineers on the project, and partnering directly with the client and producer when technical decisions need a clear voice.

Requirements

7+ years of software engineering experience with at least 4 years in AAA or mid-tier game development
2+ years as a Lead Engineer, Principal Engineer, or equivalent — with real ownership of technical direction, not just senior IC with a bigger title
At least 2 shipped commercial titles as a lead or senior contributor — on PC, console, or both
Deep Unreal Engine 5 expertise: C++ at an architectural level, not just usage; Blueprint proficiency; engine subsystem familiarity (rendering, physics, gameplay framework, GAS a strong plus)
Strong C++ fundamentals — systems design, memory management, performance reasoning
Experience leading small engineering teams and growing engineers' craft
Comfort in client-facing environments — can hold a technical conversation with a client engineering lead without translation
Remote-first discipline: async communication, documentation habits, strong written English

Nice To Haves

Experience in a co-development or external development studio environment
Multi-platform development experience: console certification, platform compliance (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo)
Online multiplayer systems, dedicated server architecture, or live-service game experience

Responsibilities

Write, review, and own C++ code on the engagement
Build and maintain core gameplay, engine, or systems components as required by the engagement
Unblock engineers on the team when they are stuck — architecture calls, engine deep-dives, debugging
Performance profiling and optimization across target platforms (console, PC, or mobile as required)
Lead and mentor engineers on the project team — grow their craft, review their work, catch drift early
Run engineering rituals: sprint planning, technical reviews, code reviews
Escalate resourcing or capability gaps to production before they affect delivery
Provide honest engineering assessments to support hiring and team growth
Be the technical voice in client conversations — represent engineering with clarity, not jargon
Partner with the Senior Game Producer to keep technical scope in sync with the schedule
Surface trade-off decisions early: 'here is the risk, here are the options, here is my recommendation'
Maintain the client's confidence that Devoted's engineering bar is where it needs to be