AI Middleware Developer in Edinburgh

About the role
Are you interested in joining a team thats building the behaviour and navigation systems that bring virtual worlds to life?
At Intelligent Artefacts (AKA Kythera AI), we build middleware that powers entities and NPCs across video games, simulations, and beyond - from independent games studios to large-scale training programmes.
Were looking for an experienced AI Middleware Developer to join our small, focused team with staff across the UK and a main office in the centre of Edinburgh. You'll be joining a close-knit group where everyone's contribution matters, so the fit, both technical and personal, has to be right. We're looking for someone with the experience to pick things up quickly and work independently when needed. Our leadership team is based across Edinburgh and Oxford, and we'd strongly prefer candidates based in or around either location.
What youll be doing
Designing and developing new features for our middleware product, Kythera
Investigating and resolving bugs and performance issues
Reviewing code and providing technical input in the design
Writing tests and documentation
Supporting customer relationships and providing technical guidance to clients

What youll bring to the role
A passion for high performance, maintainable code
Strong modern C++ experience
Understanding of pathfinding, behaviour, or planning systems
Excellent maths skills
Excellent communication & collaboration skills

We're particularly interested in candidates with experience in some of the following as well, but don't let a gap on the list put you off applying.
Experience working in a small team or start-up environment
Experience with Unreal Engine, games, simulation, or other immersive environment contexts
Experience shipping a commercial product or working on released middleware
Experience working directly with clients or integrating into a client's technical environment

Application process
Please read all questions carefully and fill in everything thats required.
We believe the best teams are built from people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We actively welcome applications from anyone qualified, but you will need the right to work in the UK.
As a very small team, we may not be able to give individual feedback on every application but we'll always let you know the outcome.
Please note that we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies for this role.
Interview process
Stage 1: An initial call with our Technical Director to get to know you better and explore your experience so far.
Stage 2 (if applicable): If you haven't been able to share a portfolio or examples of your work with your application, we'll ask you to complete a short technical exercise before moving forward. We'll keep it focused and respect your time.
Stage 3: A skills-focused interview with our Technical Director and a member of the development team, where we'll take a deeper look at your experience within the key areas for this role (and review your technical exercise results, if applicable).
Stage 4: A final conversation with our Operations Director and CEO. We're a small team, so finding the right fit matters as much to us as your technical skills. This is as much a chance for you to ask us anything as it is for us to get to know you better.

If you require any adjustments or have specific needs during the application or interview process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.
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