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- Tasks: Lead the technical vision for HELIX, our multiplayer game creation framework.
- Company: Join Hypersonic Laboratories, a diverse team building the ultimate open-world gaming experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model and be part of an innovative gaming startup.
- Why this job: Shape the future of gaming while working with cutting-edge technology and a passionate team.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in game programming with 3 shipped Unreal Engine titles required.
- Other info: This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
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Hypersonic Laboratories provided pay range
This range is provided by Hypersonic Laboratories. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
At Hypersonic Laboratories, we\’re looking for a Lead of Engineering to take technical ownership of HELIX, our in-house open-world multiplayer game creation framework.
The role is hybrid, involving 2 days a week at our Guildford, UK studio.
Who are we?
Hypersonic Laboratories is building HELIX, the ultimate open-world multiplayer sandbox. We are a diverse, experienced, international team and have raised $11M from top gaming VCs.
About the role
We’re seeking an experienced, product-focused technical leader to take charge of the technical vision and execution of HELIX. You’ll operate as a founding engineer or technical cofounder, helping scale our modular, multiplayer-first sandbox framework built on Unreal Engine 5.
This is a hands-on leadership position: you’ll be actively coding while also working closely with production to manage a small core team of engineers and scripters, guiding the development process, and ensuring our systems meet the scale and ambition of our platform.
The ideal candidate would have 10+ years of experience and at least 3 shipped Unreal Engine titles, deep Unreal expertise (including networking, plugins, and tools), and a passion for building powerful and extensible systems. You’ll work directly with leadership to ensure HELIX ships on time, on spec, and with excellence.
What you will be doing
- Acting as technical owner of HELIX, setting the direction and standards across all technical systems.
- Leading and mentoring the engineering team, providing code reviews, technical guidance, and architectural oversight.
- Contributing code daily—this is a hands-on leadership role.
- Overseeing and implementing systems across gameplay, networking, tooling, UI, online services, backend, and DevOps.
- Collaborating with other departments (gameplay, art, production) to ensure engine features meet evolving needs.
- Spearheading the adoption of AI/ML-driven workflows and tooling across the engineering org.
- Recruiting, onboarding, and mentoring technical team members.
- Maintaining a high level of responsiveness, adaptability, and technical excellence in a fast-paced environment.
- Championing engineering culture, team cohesion, and sustainable development practices.
- Supporting with hiring to grow the engineering team according to project needs and studio values.
What we will need from you
- 10+ years of professional experience as a game/engine programmer, including technical leadership on shipped titles or platforms.
- At least 3 shipped titles built with Unreal Engine.
- Deep expertise in Unreal Engine—including networking, gameplay systems, Lyra framework, motion matching, custom plugins/tools, and engine extensions.
- Proven experience building and scaling engineering teams.
- Strong background in gameplay programming, multiplayer architecture, and online subsystem integrations (e.g. EOS, Steam, etc).
- Competence in backend systems, scalable services, and DevOps pipelines.
- Proficiency in CI/CD, debugging, and performance optimization.
- Familiarity with web technologies (HTML/CSS/JS) for platform or dashboard/launcher related features.
- Passion for empowering creators through extensibility, modularity, and clean systems architecture.
Nice to have
- Experience with UGC platforms, modding frameworks, or live service ecosystems.
- Experience building or contributing to game development tools for teams or communities.
- Previous work in fast-moving startup or small team environments.
- You thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments where efficiency, agility, and a strong team culture lead to significant and meaningful impact.
- You enjoy working closely with other disciplines, wearing multiple hats, and iterating quickly.
- You’re excited by ambitious creative tools and believe in enabling others through technology.
Apply for the job
Ready to join our team as our new Engineering Lead? Then we\’d love to hear from you!
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Director
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
-
Industries
Computer Games
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Lead Engineer employer: Hypersonic Laboratories
Contact Detail:
Hypersonic Laboratories Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to showcase your hands-on coding experience during any discussions. Since this role is very much about being a technical leader while still actively contributing code, emphasising your recent projects and contributions can set you apart.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Hypersonic Laboratories. Engaging with them on platforms like LinkedIn can provide you with insider knowledge about the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with Unreal Engine in detail. Given the emphasis on deep expertise in networking, gameplay systems, and custom plugins, having specific examples ready will demonstrate your capability and passion for the technology.
✨Tip Number 4
Highlight your leadership style and how you've successfully built and scaled engineering teams in the past. This role requires not just technical skills but also the ability to mentor and guide others, so sharing relevant experiences will be crucial.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your 10+ years of experience in game/engine programming, especially focusing on your technical leadership roles and the three shipped Unreal Engine titles. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise in networking, gameplay systems, and other relevant areas.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building powerful and extensible systems. Mention your hands-on leadership style and how you can contribute to the HELIX project. Be sure to align your values with those of Hypersonic Laboratories, showcasing your enthusiasm for their mission.
Showcase Relevant Projects: Include a portfolio or links to projects that demonstrate your experience with Unreal Engine and multiplayer architecture. Highlight any contributions to UGC platforms or modding frameworks, as these will resonate well with the company's focus on empowering creators.
Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to gameplay programming, backend systems, and DevOps pipelines during the interview process. Brush up on your knowledge of CI/CD, debugging, and performance optimisation to showcase your expertise effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hypersonic Laboratories
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Lead Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of Unreal Engine and your experience with multiplayer architecture. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've implemented complex systems, and highlight any challenges you overcame during development.
✨Emphasise Leadership Skills
This role requires strong leadership abilities. Share examples of how you've mentored teams, conducted code reviews, and guided technical direction in previous positions. Highlight your experience in building and scaling engineering teams, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Collaborative Scenarios
Since the position involves working closely with other departments, be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with gameplay, art, and production teams in the past. Provide examples of how you ensured that technical features met the evolving needs of these departments.
✨Demonstrate Passion for Innovation
Hypersonic Laboratories values creativity and innovation. Talk about your enthusiasm for developing new tools and workflows, especially those involving AI/ML. Share any experiences where you've implemented cutting-edge technology to enhance game development processes.
