Lead Gameplay Programmer

About the Position

Lead Gameplay Programmer

Cary, North Carolina, United States

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WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

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Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Manage a team of seasoned gameplay programmers and be the primary hub of communication and information for other disciplines
• Distill high-level feature requests into meaningful, actionable work items and delegate effectively to the team
• Deliver core gameplay features efficiently and on time, and speak up when the team is over- or under-scoped
• Lead the vision for different gameplay systems and features and write code and do system design as needed
• Propose and review technical design, systems, and technical approaches to ensure that they satisfy requirements and promote a healthy codebase
• Work closely with art and design leads to ensure gameplay mechanics meet functional requirements and uphold our high standards
• Work closely with other programming disciplines to integrate systems in support of the player experience

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Requirements

• Experience developing gameplay physics systems (simulation, collision, character/vehicle physics, etc.)
• Experience with network replication systems (client-server prediction, state synchronization, lag compensation)
• Proven track record delivering live-service games or AAA MMO titles built on Unreal Engine
• Proven leadership experience managing high-performing programming teams on shipped AAA titles
• Strong C++ skills and the ability to code and design gameplay mechanics and tools
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to collaborate and communicate to work cross-functionally and give/receive constructive feedback
• Experience using AI coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code) to improve development efficiency and streamline programming workflows

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We Offer

Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.

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About the Company

Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.

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Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.