At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the technical vision of HELIX, our open-world multiplayer game framework.
- Company: Join Hypersonic Laboratories, a diverse team with $11M funding, creating innovative gaming experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment focused on creativity, agility, and impactful technology.
- Why this job: Be a hands-on leader in game development, shaping the future of multiplayer gaming.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in game programming, with deep Unreal Engine expertise and leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
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.
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)
- 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.
Ready to join our team as our new Engineering Lead? Then we'd love to hear from you!
Lead Engineer employer: Hypersonic Laboratories
At Hypersonic Laboratories, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. As a Lead Engineer in our Guildford studio, you'll not only take technical ownership of our groundbreaking HELIX framework but also benefit from a collaborative culture that prioritises employee growth and mentorship. With a focus on cutting-edge technology and a commitment to work-life balance through our hybrid model, we offer an exciting opportunity to be part of a passionate team dedicated to shaping the future of multiplayer gaming.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the gaming industry, especially those who might know someone at Hypersonic Laboratories. A friendly chat can open doors that applications alone can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of projects or contributions to Unreal Engine titles, make sure to highlight them during interviews. We love seeing what you can do!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical challenges! Brush up on your coding skills and be ready to tackle some hands-on tasks during the interview process. We want to see how you think and solve problems in real-time.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Hypersonic Laboratories.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Gaming:When writing your application, let your love for gaming shine through! Share your experiences with Unreal Engine and any projects you've worked on that showcase your skills. We want to see your enthusiasm for building amazing gaming experiences.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to fit the Lead Engineer role. Highlight your technical leadership experience and any shipped titles you've worked on. We appreciate candidates who take the time to align their skills with what we're looking for!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and technical expertise. We value clarity, so make it easy for us to see why you're the perfect fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you and see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hypersonic Laboratories
✨Know Your Unreal Engine Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Unreal Engine expertise before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with networking, gameplay systems, and any custom plugins or tools you've developed. Highlight specific projects where you've made a significant impact.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor a team. Prepare examples of how you've guided teams in the past, provided code reviews, and contributed to architectural decisions. This is your chance to show how you can foster a strong engineering culture.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect in-depth technical questions related to gameplay programming and multiplayer architecture. Brush up on your knowledge of online subsystem integrations like EOS and Steam. Practising coding challenges or discussing your thought process on problem-solving can really set you apart.
✨Align with Their Vision
Research Hypersonic Laboratories and their HELIX framework thoroughly. Understand their goals and be prepared to discuss how your vision aligns with theirs. Show enthusiasm for their mission and how you can contribute to building powerful and extensible systems that empower creators.
