Principal Engineer - Game Innovation

Hard Rock Digital is a team focused on becoming the best online sportsbook, casino, and social gaming company in the world. We operate like a fast-moving startup with a passion for building products millions of people play. Our Games Studio is building the next generation of in-house casino content, and we are changing how that content gets made. We are building an AI-assisted development pipeline to design, build, and ship real-money games faster, targeting formats that are not saturated.

We are looking for a Principal Engineer, Game Innovation to be the technical lead for this effort. You will design and stand up the AI-assisted game development pipeline, own the architecture that takes a game from concept to a certified title live on our RGS, and build games on it yourself. This is a hands-on principal role, not a management track. You will write code, make architectural calls, and set the engineering standard for how AI-built games get produced and shipped in a regulated environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the pipeline. Design and build the AI-assisted game development pipeline: a shared project with version control and CI/CD, agents that produce math, art, sound, and animation from a structured brief, automated evaluation gates, and a playable build.
• Own the architecture, front end to back end. Set the architecture for the game client and the back-end game server, including the round lifecycle, bet validation, outcome mapping against a certified RNG, wallet operations, reconciliation, RTP reporting, and the audit trail.
• Integrate with our RGS. Lead the integration to Fingenuity, our RGS and RNG, and own the path that turns a candidate build into a certifiable, shippable title across jurisdictions.
• Build games, not just infrastructure. Stay hands-on. Prototype mechanics, build game clients and servers, and prove the pipeline by shipping real titles through it.
• Set the AI engineering standard. Define how we use AI-assisted tools and agents in game development: the conventions, the guardrails, the human review gates, and the automated checks that verify AI output before it advances.
• Choose the stack. Make the build, buy, and partner calls on engine, tooling, and infrastructure, and standardize the studio on choices that are strong for AI-assisted development.
• Partner across the business. Work with platform engineering, compliance, and our RGS and third-party partners.
• Raise the bar around you. Mentor engineers who join this effort, establish the code review culture, and document the patterns.

Job Requirements

• 10+ years in software engineering, with significant time building games.
• Shipped real-money casino games. Direct experience with game clients and game servers, math and paytable implementation, RNG integration, and the certification process in regulated US or European markets.
• Deep game development experience across the stack: a modern engine or framework for the client and server-side services that hold game logic and outcomes.
• Hands-on expertise using AI-assisted development tools and agents as a core part of building software.
• Real enthusiasm for AI in game production, with a point of view on its strengths and weaknesses.
• Experience standing up development infrastructure: version control strategy, CI/CD, containerized environments, artifact management, observability, and reproducible builds.
• Understanding of RGS and RNG integration, wallet operations, and reporting requirements.
• A track record of shipping multiple titles or platform releases.
• Comfort in a regulated industry, able to work inside compliance requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Low ego, high ownership.

What's in it for you?

• Competitive pay and benefits.
• Flexible vacation allowance.
• Flexible work from home or office hours.
• Startup culture backed by a secure, global brand.
• Real room to invent.
• Opportunity to build products enjoyed by millions as part of a passionate team.

We care deeply about every interaction our customers have with us, and trust and empower our staff to own and drive their experience. We want to celebrate you being you. We are an equal opportunities employer.