Senior Gameplay Programmer
Senior Gameplay Programmer

Senior Gameplay Programmer

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Duolingo

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our Music team to develop an innovative music course using Unity.
  • Company: Duolingo, a leader in accessible education for millions worldwide.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, holistic well-being support, and limitless learning opportunities.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with mentorship from world-class professionals.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on music education while working with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: Strong Unity development skills and a passion for enhancing user experiences.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. At Duolingo, you’ll join a team that cares about finding innovative solutions to complex technical problems, running countless experiments with our massive user base to make data-driven decisions, and educating our users and employees alike. You’ll have limitless learning opportunities, mentorship and collaboration with world-class minds, and a variety of projects with large scopes — while doing work that’s both fun and meaningful. Join our life-changing mission to develop education for our half a billion learners around the world.

About the role

Come join our Music team and help us build the future of music education. We are looking for a Senior gameplay programmer with Unity background to help us implement our new music course. You will help build the best possible user experience for our learners through high-quality interactive lessons.

You will...

  • Implement the new music course within the Duolingo app using embedded Unity.
  • Productionize the existing prototype, turning it into robust, release-ready code.
  • Work embedded within the Duolingo app architecture to ensure seamless integration of Unity.
  • Collaborate with designers and product partners to refine the look and feel, ensuring a high-quality, gamified user experience.
  • Proactively identify issues and opportunities to improve the learner experience.
  • Engage in rapid prototyping to test new music mechanics and interaction models.
  • Ensure technical mistakes or inconsistencies are fixed as quickly as possible.

You have...

  • Strong experience with Unity development (C#), specifically for mobile platforms (iOS/Android).
  • Background in the gaming industry with a portfolio demonstrating high-quality game feel and polish.
  • Sharp UX instincts and experience implementing complex UI/UX designs.
  • Strong business sense, with proven experience working effectively with multi-functional team members (e.g. engineers, product, and design).
  • Thrives in a fast-paced, data-driven, team-oriented environment.
  • Strong interest in Duolingo and our mission.

Exceptional candidates will have...

  • Experience embedding Unity as a library (UaaL) into native mobile applications.
  • Background in music, music theory, or audio programming.
  • Experience in web/mobile localization workflows and tools.
  • Familiarity with mobile gaming, with an understanding of game mechanics.

Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Senior Gameplay Programmer employer: Duolingo

At Duolingo, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. As a Senior Gameplay Programmer, you'll have access to limitless learning opportunities, mentorship from world-class professionals, and the chance to contribute to meaningful projects that impact millions of learners globally. Our commitment to employee well-being and professional growth, combined with our mission to make education universally accessible, makes Duolingo a truly rewarding place to work.
Duolingo

Contact Detail:

Duolingo Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Gameplay Programmer

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Duolingo on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of projects, especially those using Unity, make sure to highlight them in your conversations. Bring them up during interviews to demonstrate your experience and passion.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for the technical challenges! Brush up on your C# and Unity skills, and be ready to tackle some coding problems during the interview. Practice makes perfect, so don’t skip this step!

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Duolingo mission.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Gameplay Programmer

Unity Development (C#)
Mobile Development (iOS/Android)
Game Design
UI/UX Design Implementation
Collaboration with Multi-Functional Teams
Rapid Prototyping
Problem Identification and Resolution
Embedding Unity as a Library (UaaL)
Music Theory Knowledge
Audio Programming
Web/Mobile Localization Workflows
Understanding of Game Mechanics
Data-Driven Decision Making
Strong Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Education: When writing your application, let us know why you're excited about Duolingo's mission to make education accessible. Share any personal experiences or projects that highlight your commitment to learning and teaching.

Highlight Your Unity Experience: Make sure to showcase your strong background in Unity development, especially for mobile platforms. Include specific examples of projects where you've implemented complex UI/UX designs to demonstrate your skills.

Collaborate and Communicate: Since this role involves working closely with designers and product partners, emphasise your teamwork skills. Mention any past experiences where you successfully collaborated with multi-functional teams to achieve a common goal.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Duolingo

✨Know Your Unity Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your Unity skills, especially with C#. Be ready to discuss your past projects and how you've tackled challenges in mobile development. Having specific examples of your work will show that you’re not just familiar with the platform, but that you can also innovate within it.

✨Show Off Your UX Instincts

Since the role involves creating a high-quality user experience, be prepared to talk about your approach to UX design. Bring examples of complex UI/UX designs you've implemented and explain how they improved user engagement. This will demonstrate your understanding of what makes a game feel polished and enjoyable.

✨Collaborate Like a Pro

Duolingo values teamwork, so highlight your experience working with cross-functional teams. Share stories about how you’ve collaborated with designers and product managers to refine projects. This shows that you can communicate effectively and contribute to a team-oriented environment.

✨Be Ready for Rapid Prototyping

Since the role involves rapid prototyping, think of examples where you’ve quickly tested new ideas or mechanics. Discuss your process for identifying issues and iterating on solutions. This will illustrate your ability to adapt and innovate in a fast-paced setting, which is crucial for this position.

Senior Gameplay Programmer
Duolingo

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