Senior Gameplay Software Engineer - EA SPORTS UFC

About the Role

The Senior Gameplay Engineer will shape the core player experience and elevate the combat systems of the EA SPORTS UFC franchise. The role involves architecting moment-to-moment combat gameplay, including punches, kicks, takedowns, physics, and AI behaviours, working at the intersection of technology and creativity. The engineer will collaborate closely with game designers, animators, and technical leaders to turn ambitious design concepts into smooth, responsive, and visually stunning gameplay. The role reports to a Senior Gameplay Engineer and works closely with designers and producers. The team is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is on a mission to become the world's greatest fighting game.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, implement, and refine high-performance gameplay systems including player controls, combat logic, character animation state machines, physics interactions, and spatial AI.
• Partner closely with designers, animators, audio engineers, and producers to translate creative vision into engaging, high-fidelity gameplay mechanics.
• Contribute to core engine capabilities, multi-threaded architecture, memory management, and network synchronisation to ensure fluid frame rates and ultra-responsive controls.
• Pioneer the integration of emerging AI techniques and automated workflows into development pipelines to enhance innovation, dynamic character behaviour, and team efficiency.
• Build and maintain developer-facing tools, editors, and performance profiling utilities to empower designers and animators.
• Continuously iterate on gameplay mechanics to ensure responsiveness, impact clarity, frame accuracy, and overall player satisfaction.
• Guide and mentor junior and mid-level engineers, promoting software engineering best practices, code quality, and technical excellence across the team.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience in video game development, with a strong portfolio of shipped titles or core gameplay systems work.
• Advanced proficiency in C++ and object-oriented software design.
• Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, 3D math (linear algebra, vector math, quaternions), and physics.
• Deep experience with debugging, memory optimisation, multi-threading, and performance profiling.
• Hands‑on experience developing gameplay systems such as combat mechanics, player controllers, animation trees/IK, physics, or game AI.
• Proven track record or active affinity for leveraging emerging AI technologies and automation to optimise workflows and drive technical innovation.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical team members.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing for modern console platforms (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S).
• Deep passion for combat sports (UFC, MMA, Boxing) or fighting games.
• Familiarity with dynamic animation techniques, procedural movement, or physics-driven hit reaction systems.
• Familiarity with modern version control tools (Perforce, Git).

Workplace

• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Benefits & Perks

• 3 weeks of vacation per year to start
• 10 days per year of sick time
• Paid top‑up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when welcoming a new child (12 weeks for maternity, 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave)
• Extended health, dental, and vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Retirement plan for regular full-time employees
• Eligibility for bonus and other incentive programs (for certain roles)

About the Company

EA SPORTS is one of the most iconic brands in entertainment – connecting hundreds of millions around the world to the sports they love through a portfolio of industry‑leading video games.