At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of core gameplay systems for a live-service multiplayer game.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at a cutting-edge game development studio.
- Benefits: Remote-first culture, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Mentor a growing team and make impactful technical decisions.
- Why this job: Shape the future of gaming with your expertise in Unreal Engine and multiplayer systems.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in game development and strong C++ skills in Unreal Engine.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Lead Gameplay Developer with strong Unreal Engine expertise and a passion for building scalable multiplayer systems? We’re hiring a Lead Gameplay Developer to own the technical design and implementation of core gameplay systems for a large-scale, live-service multiplayer game built in Unreal Engine 5. This is a senior leadership role for someone who can architect foundational systems, mentor engineers, and shape how the game feels and performs for years to come.
About the role
In this role, you’ll report to the CTO and lead a growing team of gameplay engineers. You’ll stay hands‑on with C++ and Blueprint implementation while setting technical direction across combat, traversal, abilities, progression, and multiplayer systems. The project is in early production, meaning core gameplay systems are still being architected and prototyped. You’ll make key technical decisions that define scalability, performance, and gameplay feel within a persistent online environment.
What you’ll do
- People leadership and team development
- Lead and mentor a growing team of gameplay engineers
- Set priorities, assign work, and balance workload across production cycles
- Run regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and development plans
- Represent gameplay engineering in cross-discipline planning and resourcing discussions
- Establish a culture of clean code, technical rigour, and collaborative problem-solving
- Support hiring, including technical assessments and interviews
- Gameplay systems and implementation
- Architect and implement core gameplay systems in Unreal Engine 5
- Build systems for combat, traversal, player abilities, interaction, and progression
- Design gameplay systems for multiplayer and persistent online environments
- Implement server-authoritative logic, client prediction, and state replication
- Collaborate with design to build extensible systems that allow rapid iteration
- Work hands‑on in C++ and Blueprint, profiling and refining systems
- Integrate gameplay systems with animation, VFX, UI, and audio layers
- Technical architecture and performance
- Define coding standards, architecture patterns, and review processes
- Ensure maintainable, scalable gameplay code as features expand
- Profile and optimise for MMO‑scale performance (replication, bandwidth, tick budgets, memory)
- Partner with online services and network engineers to ensure reliability under latency and server load
- Use playtests and telemetry data to improve gameplay feel, responsiveness, and fairness
- Contribute to milestone planning, sprint scoping, and capacity forecasting
What we’re looking for
- Experience
- 7+ years in game development
- At least one shipped title in a gameplay engineering or gameplay lead role
- 2+ years of direct people management experience
- Proven experience delivering multiplayer or online gameplay systems
- Technical skills
- Strong C++ proficiency in Unreal Engine
- Experience with Unreal replication systems and Blueprint integration
- Experience building scalable gameplay systems for multiplayer environments
- Strong understanding of server authority, client prediction, and state synchronisation
- Ability to translate design concepts into extensible and performant systems
- Collaboration
- Strong communication skills across design, art, animation, audio, and network teams
- Experience documenting systems and establishing technical standards
- Nice to have
- Experience shipping an MMO or persistent online world
- Deep experience with Unreal’s Gameplay Ability System (GAS)
- Familiarity with AI systems for NPC behaviours and encounter scripting
- Experience with data-driven gameplay systems
- Awareness of anti-cheat and exploit mitigation in online games
Why join
- Shape the core gameplay foundation of a live-service multiplayer title
- High ownership in early production with long-term technical impact
- Remote‑first culture with autonomy and collaborative leadership
- Opportunity to build and grow a gameplay engineering team
If you’re a senior Unreal gameplay engineer who enjoys architecting multiplayer systems, mentoring teams, and shaping the feel of a game from the ground up, we’d love to hear from you.
Lead Gameplay Developer employer: Skillsearch
Join a dynamic and innovative team as a Lead Gameplay Developer, where you'll have the opportunity to shape the core gameplay foundation of a live-service multiplayer title. With a remote-first culture that promotes autonomy and collaborative leadership, you will lead a growing team of engineers while enjoying significant ownership in early production phases. The company prioritises employee growth through mentorship and offers a unique chance to make a long-term technical impact in an exciting and evolving gaming environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Gameplay Developer
✨Tip Number 1
Network, network, network! Get out there and connect with other developers in the industry. Attend game dev meetups, conferences, or even online forums. You never know who might be looking for someone with your skills!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your work! Create a portfolio that highlights your best projects, especially those involving Unreal Engine and multiplayer systems. Make sure to include any gameplay mechanics you've designed or implemented – this is your chance to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with C++, Blueprint, and multiplayer systems. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms – it shows you can communicate effectively with your team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Gameplay Developer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your 7+ years in game development and any shipped titles you've worked on. We want to see how your experience aligns with the role, especially in gameplay engineering and multiplayer systems.
Be Specific About Your Skills:When you mention your technical skills, be specific about your C++ proficiency and your experience with Unreal Engine. We love details, so don’t shy away from showcasing your knowledge of replication systems and gameplay architecture.
Demonstrate Leadership Qualities:Since this is a lead role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your people management experience. Talk about how you've mentored engineers, set priorities, and fostered a culture of clean code and collaboration in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Skillsearch
✨Know Your Unreal Engine Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Unreal Engine 5 skills, especially C++ and Blueprint. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've implemented core gameplay systems, and how you tackled challenges like server authority and state synchronisation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Gameplay Developer, you'll be expected to mentor and lead a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, including how you set priorities, conducted performance reviews, and fostered a culture of clean code and collaboration.
✨Demonstrate Your Multiplayer Expertise
Since the role focuses on scalable multiplayer systems, come prepared to discuss your experience with online gameplay systems. Highlight any specific challenges you've faced in multiplayer environments and how you optimised for performance and reliability under load.
✨Engage with Cross-Discipline Collaboration
This role requires strong communication across various teams. Think of examples where you've collaborated with design, art, and network engineers. Be ready to explain how you documented systems and established technical standards that benefited the entire project.
