Lead Engineer

Side•Fort Lauderdale, FL

12h•Remote

About The Position

Please note, this listing is for a project-based opportunity. These opportunities are contingent on client needs and project availability. Side is a global game development and services partner, working alongside many of the world's leading developers and publishers. From co-development and engineering, to art, audio, QA, localization, and player support, we help teams solve production challenges and deliver exceptional player experiences. We're looking for a Lead Engineer / Technical Director to help drive both project success and engineering excellence across our co-development engagements. This role is to start work as the Lead on one of our live projects, maturing into a department leadership role in the future, whilst still maintaining project activity. This is a role for an experienced engineer who is equally comfortable leading a project team in a hands-on manner, leading by example, mentoring developers, and building strong cross-discipline relationships. You'll play a key role in shaping technical solutions for our clients while helping grow and strengthen the engineering practice within Side. If you're an Unreal expert who thrives in collaborative environments and enjoys balancing technical leadership with people leadership, we'd love to hear from you. Only resumes submitted in English will be considered.

Requirements

Background as a Lead Engineer or Technical Director.
Professional experience in engineering roles in games or related tech fields.
Shipped at least two titles on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR with Unreal Engine.
Experience in one or more areas such as gameplay, AI, tools, systems, engine, animation tech, backend services, cloud, or DevOps.
Proficiency in C++, C#, Python, or equivalent languages.
Hands-on Unreal Engine expert, with solid experience in Unity and proprietary engines.
Familiarity with source control, debugging tools, performance profiling, and agile workflows.

Responsibilities

Lead engineering efforts across active co-development projects.
Partner closely with production, design, art, QA, and client stakeholders to deliver high-quality experiences.
Provide technical direction, identify risks early, and drive pragmatic solutions throughout development.
Communicate technical trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Support estimation, planning, and execution throughout the project lifecycle.
Contribute hands-on to development when needed, particularly within Unreal Engine.
Architect and review gameplay systems, tools, integrations, and performance-critical features.
Guide teams through debugging, profiling, optimization, and technical problem-solving.
Support projects across multiple engines and technologies where required.
Ensure code quality, maintainability, scalability, and performance standards are consistently met.