Senior/Principal Gameplay Programmer

Senior/Principal C++ Gameplay Programmer (Unreal Engine 5)

Location: Brighton, UK (Hybrid, 3 days a week)

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

Visa Sponsorship: Not available (Must have existing right to work in the UK)

About the Studio & Opportunity

I am currently partnering with an award-winning, independent UK game development studio known for creating rich, narrative-driven titles and original IPs. They are actively expanding their engineering team to work on two exciting AAA projects developed in Unreal Engine 5 , including a major new original IP. The studio culture is laid-back, inclusive, and anti-micromanagement. They place high value on creative freedom, open conversation, and ownership, making this an ideal home for a self-motivated senior engineer who wants their work to make a tangible impact.

The Role

As a Senior or Principal Gameplay Programmer , you will take true ownership of designing, building, and maintaining core gameplay systems and supporting technical frameworks. Reporting directly to the Technical Director, you will work alongside a close-knit, highly skilled engineering team (9 coders across 2 project squads) to turn complex technical challenges into engaging player experiences.

What you’ll be doing:

• Own Core Systems: Architect and implement high-quality gameplay systems, AI behaviours, and tools using C++ and UE5.
• Open World Development: Work closely with procedural generation techniques and large-scale open-world streaming/systems.
• Technical Best Practices: Write clean, maintainable source code and encourage strong architectural practices within the engineering group.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Partner with design, art, and narrative teams to shape feature implementation from concept to final polish.
• Solve Tough Challenges: Dive deep into the codebase to debug, optimize, and overcome complex technical hurdles.

What We’re Looking For

• C++ & UE5 Expertise: Strong, battle-tested C++ skills with deep hands-on experience in Unreal Engine 5 at a Senior or Principal level.
• Gameplay Frameworks: Practical experience with UE5’s Gameplay Ability System (GAS), Behaviour Trees, and State Trees.
• Open World Experience: Exposure to systems-level programming for large open-world or procedural environments (e.g., streaming, world partitioning).
• Problem Solving & Autonomy: A self-starter mindset with the ability to take full ownership of features without needing to be micro-managed.
• Modern Tooling: Familiarity or curiosity around incorporating modern AI workflows/tools into everyday coding to streamline repetitive tasks.

Work Setup & Location

• Hybrid Working: 3 days in the office (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) and 2 days remote/flexible.
• Office Location: Brighton, UK (a vibrant hub for UK game dev).
• Relocation Support: A dedicated relocation package is available for candidates moving within the UK/Europe with existing right to work in the UK.