Senior Gameplay Engineer

We take play seriously. We’re looking for curious adventurers ready to find their party, fueled by imagination and drive to build what’s never been built before. At Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, you’ll collaborate with passionate teams to reimagine our iconic brands and create experiences that spark joy, connection, and community through the magic of play. This is your chance to shape legendary play that lasts a lifetime.

Skeleton Key is a game development studio and division of Wizards of the Coast. We are a group of industry veterans who are guided by the belief that empowering our teams and providing the necessary time, tools, and support we can foster a creative culture where everyone can do their best work.

Our studio is located in Austin, TX, and we are looking for a passionate and dedicated Senior Gameplay Engineer to join us and bring our first AAA game to life. This role will be based out of Austin, TX with a 3-day per week onsite hybrid working model.

Reporting to the Lead Gameplay Engineer, you will be a key contributor as we enter pre-production, focused on building and iterating on core gameplay systems. This role emphasizes hands-on implementation of player-facing features, networked multiplayer gameplay, and NPC and enemy combatant behaviors. You will develop systems that must function reliably in shared game states, working closely with design, animation, and engineering teams to deliver responsive, scalable gameplay within Unreal Engine.

What you'll do:

• Design, implement, and iterate on gameplay systems and player-facing features using C++ in Unreal Engine.
• Collaborate closely with Gameplay Design to translate concepts into scalable, maintainable systems.
• Implement features with awareness of replication, shared state, and multiplayer considerations.
• Partner with animation and technical animation teams to ensure gameplay feels responsive and cohesive.
• Debug, profile, and optimize systems to ensure performance, stability, and scalability.
• Contribute to code reviews, technical discussions, and shared engineering practices across the team.
• Design and implement AI-related gameplay features, including behavior logic, decision-making, and player interactions.

What you'll bring:

• 5+ years of professional experience as a Gameplay Engineer on shipped games.
• Strong C++ experience with Unreal Engine gameplay systems.
• Experience implementing gameplay features in real-time 3D environments.
• Familiarity with gameplay systems that operate across multiple players or shared game states, including Unreal Engine AI systems such as behavior trees, AI controllers, or navigation.
• Experience collaborating closely with design and content teams.
• Strong debugging, problem-solving, and systems-thinking skills.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a cross-disciplinary team.

Nice to have:

• Experience working on multiplayer or co-operative gameplay systems.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine replication or multiplayer gameplay patterns.
• Experience working on action-oriented or systems-heavy games.
• Background contributing to early pre-production or foundational gameplay systems.

The pay transparency range for this role is listed below. The hiring range will vary based on factors such as experience, skills, location and market conditions. Additionally, employees may be eligible for annual and long-term incentives as part of their overall compensation package.

Pay Range

$154,900—$232,400 USD

Employees may be eligible for annual and long-term incentives as part of their overall compensation package, depending on role, location, and eligibility. Benefits and programs may include:

• Health & Wellness
• Time Off to Recharge
• Financial Well-being
• Life & Family Support
• Volunteer and Community Initiatives
• Learning & Development
• Exclusive Perks

Please review our Applicant Privacy Notice to learn how we collect, use, and protect your personal information in connection with the application process.