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Senior Gameplay Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

Work closely with programmers and designers to support a multitude of features. * Collaborate with Senior Animators on complicated sets of animation data to fulfill various gameplay and AI systems.

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay ...

Valicy

Senior Game Developer

Greenville, NC

Senior Game Developer Location: Greenville, NC Department: NC Game Development Reports To: Game ... engaging gameplay. - Make practical technical decisions that balance quality, speed ...

Valicy

Senior Game Developer

Wilmington, NC

Senior Game Developer Location: Wilmington, NC Department: NC Game Development Reports To: Game ... engaging gameplay. - Make practical technical decisions that balance quality, speed ...

Epic Games

Senior Gameplay Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

$94K - $101K/yr

In this role, you'll partner closely with design leadership, art, engineering, animation, UX, audio ... You will own and iterate on gameplay systems, mechanics, and content while balancing player ...

Epic Games

Senior AI Engineer

Cary, NC · On-site

$96K - $132K/yr

ENGINEERING - GAMES What We Do Unreal projects have been leading the pack of real-time ... As a Senior Gameplay AI Engineer, you'll play a critical role on a small, focused team. You'll own ...

ClassDojo

Senior Game Engineer

$107K - $146K/yr

The Senior Game Engineer will join the virtual worlds platform team to develop Dojo Islands, a ... gameplay functionality. Responsibilities : • Join our virtual worlds platform team. • Develop ...

teamLFG

OR · On-site

As a Senior Game Engineer - Graphics on teamLFG, you will work closely with artists, designers and ... RESPONSIBILITIES Build and maintain production-quality gameplay systems, workflows, and tools in C ...

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Senior Gameplay Engineer information

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$59.5K

$126.6K

$183.5K

How much do senior gameplay engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior gameplay engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges faced by Senior Gameplay Engineers when collaborating with design and art teams?

Senior Gameplay Engineers often work closely with design and art teams to implement and refine game features. A common challenge is balancing creative vision with technical constraints, such as performance limitations or platform requirements. Effective communication is crucial, as engineers must translate design ideas into functional, optimized code while providing feedback on feasibility. Navigating these interdisciplinary collaborations requires flexibility, problem-solving skills, and the ability to advocate for both technical integrity and gameplay quality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Gameplay Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Gameplay Engineer, you need advanced programming skills in C++ or C#, strong knowledge of game physics, AI, and a track record of shipped game titles. Familiarity with major game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, as well as version control systems and debugging tools, is typically required. Creativity, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective collaboration set standout engineers apart in multidisciplinary team environments. These skills ensure the delivery of engaging, high-quality gameplay experiences and efficient development processes.

How much do gameplay engineers make?

Gameplay engineers typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior gameplay engineers with specialized skills in programming languages like C++ and experience with game engines such as Unreal or Unity tend to be at the higher end of this range.

What is the difference between Senior Gameplay Engineer vs Gameplay Programmer?

AspectSenior Gameplay EngineerGameplay Programmer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related; extensive experienceBachelor's in Computer Science or related; some experience
Work EnvironmentDesigning and implementing complex gameplay features, mentoring junior staffWriting and debugging gameplay code, collaborating with designers
Industry UsageCommon in AAA and indie game studios, often with leadership responsibilitiesWidely used across game development teams, often as a mid-level role

The Senior Gameplay Engineer typically has more experience, leadership duties, and oversees complex gameplay systems, whereas the Gameplay Programmer focuses on coding and implementing gameplay features. Both roles require strong programming skills and industry knowledge, but the senior role involves mentorship and project oversight.

What is the highest paying job in the gaming industry?

In the gaming industry, senior roles such as Lead Game Designer, Technical Director, or Executive Producer tend to have the highest salaries, often exceeding $150,000 annually. Senior Gameplay Engineers with extensive experience and specialized skills in graphics, physics, or AI can also earn high compensation, especially at major studios or with additional responsibilities.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior gameplay engineers in the gaming industry can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses, stock options, and experience at major companies. High compensation often requires advanced skills in programming, graphics, and game development tools, along with a strong track record of successful projects.

What engineers make 300,000 a year?

Senior Gameplay Engineers in the gaming industry can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, specialized skills in graphics, physics, or AI, and working at large or successful companies. Compensation often includes bonuses, stock options, and benefits, reflecting the high demand for technical expertise in game development.

What is a Senior Gameplay Engineer?

A Senior Gameplay Engineer is a highly experienced software developer who specializes in designing, implementing, and optimizing gameplay features for video games. They work closely with designers, artists, and other engineers to bring game mechanics and interactive elements to life. In addition to coding, they often mentor junior developers, help define technical standards, and troubleshoot complex gameplay issues. Their expertise ensures that the game is both fun and technically sound, contributing significantly to the overall player experience.
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What cities are hiring for Senior Gameplay Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Gameplay Engineer job openings:
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What job categories do people searching Senior Gameplay Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Gameplay Engineer jobs are:
Senior Gameplay Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Gameplay Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,557 per year, or $60.8 per hour.
Senior Gameplay AI Engineer

Senior Gameplay AI Engineer

Striking Distance Studios

San Ramon, CA

$138K - $170K/yr

Other

Posted 5 days ago

New

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

Striking Distance Studios is looking for a Senior AI Engineer to work in a cooperative, cross-disciplinary team environment to implement gameplay features and systems within our games. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work across disciplines to build, refactor and maintain a variety of robust, flexible, and well-architected AI features.
  • Work with design team to prototype and implement AI behaviours that empower the fun.
  • Implement enemies, NPCs or any kind of AI managed characters.
  • Work with gameplay engineers to integrate developed AI systems.
  • Implement optimizations in perception systems and decision-making systems to make the AI performant.
  • Work on navigation & pathfinding systems and demonstrate the ability to debug complex AI issues.
  • Integrate and maintain AI middleware across all platforms.
  • Review the work of other engineers and provide mentorship on your area of knowledge.
  • Create and maintain technical design documents.
  • Delve into code written by other engineers and take ownership of existing systems as needed.
  • Keep current on technological developments and advancements.
  • Research and develop coding techniques and algorithms.
  • Collaborate with technology director on technical design and feature roll out.
  • Write clear, maintainable, portable, and highly performant code.
  • Communicate accurate status updates to your team leads, producers, and QA regarding tasks/features you are responsible for.
  • Adhere to team coding standards and best practices.
  • Foster a culture of open, honest, and respectful communication across all disciplines.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer science, or equivalent.
  • At least 5 years of games industry experience and preferably 3 years or more in a similar role.
  • At least 3 years of experience with Unreal Engine.
  • Experience shipping games on current generation consoles (PS5 or XSX) and PC.
  • Advanced ability to be self-directed, focused and detail oriented.
  • Advanced C++ skills.
  • Advance knowledge on blueprints and AI decision making tools (Unreal behaviour trees, utility AI, etc.).
  • Advance knowledge of navigation and pathfinding systems.
  • 3D math skills.
  • Advanced verbal and written communications skills.
  • A demonstrable love / passion for playing and making video games.
  • A highly communicative and collaborative disposition.

Reasonable Accommodation

KRAFTON Americas is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the Company will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to apply for an open position, perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the HR Talent team at KRAFTON Americas, to begin the interactive process.

EEOC statement

KRAFTON Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.

In California, the expected salary range for this position is $138,000-$170,000. The listed expected salary range represents a good faith estimate and the actual pay may depend on a variety of job-related factors that can include experience, education, skills, and location.

Don't meet every single requirement? 

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply at jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  At Krafton we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.  You might just be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Due to recent scams, our recruiters will only reach out to you via @sds.com, @krafton.com, @unknownworlds.com or @pubg.com. If you received an email and are unsure you can always email recruiting_ka@krafton.com. 

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