At Gardens Interactive, we're building games centered on connection, collective adventure, and emergent stories. We believe the spirit with which we build games is reflected in the experiences our players have. The way we collaborate, solve problems, navigate uncertainty, and care for one another ultimately shapes the worlds we create. We're creating magical, shared experiences that bring players together and we know those experiences come from teams that are curious, resilient, ambitious, and deeply committed to one another.
We're a fully remote studio that embraces collaboration, thoughtful iteration, and the courage to explore new ideas. If you're excited by ambiguity, enjoy solving difficult problems with kind, talented teammates, and want to help build worlds where friendships flourish, we'd love to meet you.
As a Gameplay Engineer, you will craft tactile and immersive gameplay systems that will fuel the adventure and enable the stories within our games. You will partner with designers to understand the vision and intent behind game features, realize those features in Unreal using C++ and Blueprints, and apply your architectural expertise to enable the iterative development and evolution of our game. You will be a key player in connecting our players to the game world and enabling them to explore, interact and create memorable multiplayer moments.
A DAY IN THE LIFE:
- Apply your expertise with the Unreal Engine (C++ and Blueprints) to own the implementation of gameplay mechanics in close collaboration with the design team.
- Develop flexible, scalable systems designed for iterative development that facilitate emergent game interactions.
- Playtest regularly with the team to prototype new ideas and ensure gameplay is progressing in accordance with our game’s pillars.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Own the technical architecture and implementation of multiple gameplay features across the game, partnering closely with design and production to achieve creative intent and balance development prioritization.
- Advocate for excellence in tactile, immersive game feel across the project and the studio.
- Collaborate closely with design, art and animation to align with game vision and provide technical expertise and perspective on decisions and alternatives.
- Contribute to the stability of the game by proactively assisting in the identification and triage of issues in game systems, collaborating on solutions, and identifying and reducing friction in the development process.
WHAT YOU’LL BRING:
- 5+ years of experience building game mechanics across one or more projects.
- Deep expertise in Unreal’s gameplay frameworks, including character/camera controllers, behavior trees, Blackboard and the Gameplay Ability System.
- Solid understanding of Unreal’s multiplayer framework, including replication RPCs, and the ability to incorporate the implications of a networked multiplayer environment into feature implementation.
- Clear communication, strong collaboration, and the judgment to work independently, recognize constraints, and seek support when needed.
NICE TO HAVES:
- Previous experience on shipped multiplayer titles using Unreal Engine.
- Prior experience owning the decision-making and implementation of significant portions of control/camera systems, NPC AI/behavior, combat or ability/action features in a multiplayer context.
- Experience profiling and optimizing gameplay systems for large-scale content.
THE TEAM:
- You will report to the Lead Gameplay Engineer.
- You will join a team of gameplay engineers who work closely with other disciplines to champion the values that our games are centered on.
How We Work
We believe great games are built by people who care deeply about both the work and one another. Our values guide how we collaborate, solve problems, make decisions, and grow together. They're practical behaviors, not slogans, and they're part of how we hire, give feedback, and support one another every day.
We're looking for teammates who…