Job Summary:
AGBO is an artist-led independent studio founded by Anthony and Joe Russo, recognized for shaping the future of film and television. They are seeking a Principal Gameplay Engineer to work within their Interactive team, focusing on core gameplay systems and collaborating with design and creative leadership to tackle ambitious creative challenges.
Responsibilities:
• Serve as the primary technical owner and subject matter expert for gameplay systems across major game features.
• Architect, implement, and iterate on complex, high-quality gameplay systems—such as character mechanics and emergent gameplay loops.
• Collaborate directly with creative and design leadership to translate ambitious game design vision into robust, performant engineering solutions.
• Help drive technical strategy and establish engineering standards for gameplay development across the team.
• Contribute engine-level improvements, optimizations, and custom systems as required to support the unique needs of the projects.
• Mentor senior, mid-level, and junior engineers; conduct rigorous code reviews and elevate overall code quality.
• Proactively identify and resolve deep technical challenges, including performance bottlenecks, system complexity, and architectural risk.
• Work cross-functionally with other engineering disciplines to ensure gameplay systems integrate cleanly with the broader tech stack.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 10-15 years of experience in game engineering, with significant time focused on gameplay systems; multiple shipped titles required.
• Exceptional C++ skills and expert-level command of Unreal Engine internals (UE4 and/or UE5).
• Experience with live service games.
• Demonstrated engine-level experience: custom subsystems, engine modifications, deep profiling and optimization, or similar.
• Deep expertise in gameplay systems, complex character mechanics, and interactive world systems.
• Proven ability to define and lead technical architecture at a project or studio level.
• Strong instincts for gameplay feel, iteration, and design collaboration—able to bridge the gap between design intent and technical execution at a high level.
• Excellent communication skills; able to articulate complex technical concepts to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders.
• Experience leading or mentoring engineering teams in a high-growth or studio environment.
Company:
AGBO creates intellectual property universes spanning film, TV, audio, and interactive experiences. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.