Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer
Mob Entertainment · United States
- Hybrid
- Contract
- $150,000 / year
- United States
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Subject: Interested in the Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer role at Mob Entertainment
Hi Jordan — I came across the Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer opening and wanted to reach out directly. I've spent the last few years doing exactly this kind of work, and Mob Entertainment stood out because…
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Job highlights
- Program rich gameplay systems in Unreal Engine 5.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on game mechanics.
- Implement AI, player abilities, and camera logic.
- Ensure performance, scalability, and code clarity.
- Ship exciting features for a popular horror game.
About the role
About Mob Entertainment
Mob Entertainment is a startup multimedia studio that is best known for our hit indie horror game "Poppy Playtime". This franchise is one of the hottest new properties in gaming, and our team is naturally expanding as our ambition expands. To give a taste of our brand's popularity, more than 100 billion YouTube views of Poppy Playtime related content have occurred since the game's launch 4 years ago.
Job Summary
As a Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer, you’ll join a cross-functional team building rich, tactile, and memorable gameplay experiences. This role bridges engineering rigor with creative iteration, working in Unreal Engine 5 to prototype, build, and polish gameplay systems and player-facing mechanics. You’ll touch everything from AI behaviors to interactive systems, player abilities to camera logic - all while upholding performance, scalability, and clarity for designers and artists.
If you love shipping exciting features, digging into the engine, and building immersive experiences that stick with players, we want to talk to you.
What You’ll Do
- Collaborate with design and engineering to implement player mechanics, tools, puzzles, and interactive sequences.
- Balance performance and maintainability when building gameplay code, ensuring scalability for the project.
- Dig deep into Unreal Engine and core systems (input, physics, animation, GAS, etc.) to build clean, robust foundations for gameplay features.
- Utilize and extend existing systems to implement gameplay features based on design specifications.
- Work directly with other programmers to debug issues, refactor systems, and support pipeline tools.
Requirements & Skills
- 6+ years of professional game development experience
- 2+ shipped titles in Unreal Engine (preferably UE5)
- Experience with Unreal’s networking stack
- Strong familiarity with Unreal Engine’s Blueprint Scripting Language
- Development experience with Unreal Engine’s Gameplay Ability System (GAS)
- Experience with Unreal subsystems: Animation (Montages, AnimBP), Sequencer, AI (State Tree, Behavior Trees, EQS), Physics, and Input
- Ability to take a feature from design doc to shippable implementation
- Proficiency in 3D math (vector math, linear algebra, transforms)
- Collaborative mindset: able to translate creative vision into technical execution while communicating across departments
- Self-motivated with strong debugging and profiling skills
Bonus Skills
- Development experience with co-operative or multiplayer social games
- Familiarity with horror or first-person puzzle games
- Strong C++ programming skills and a clear understanding of Blueprint/C++ communication
- Engine-level knowledge of Unreal systems or interest in core engine work
- Comfort working in a startup-style environment: fast iteration, tight collaboration, big swings
- Wearing many-hats. Broad exposure to Unreal Engine’s various systems is a major plus
Equal Opportunity Employer
Mob Entertainment is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and complies with all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, military service, or any other protected class under applicable state or local law. Mob Entertainment also considers all qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with Fair Chance laws as well as any other applicable state and local laws.
Key skills/competency
- Unreal Engine 5
- Gameplay Programmer
- Senior Gameplay Programmer
- Lead Gameplay Programmer
- C++
- Blueprint Scripting
- Gameplay Ability System (GAS)
- AI Development
- 3D Math
- Game Development
Skills & topics
- Gameplay Programmer
- Unreal Engine
- Senior Gameplay Programmer
- Lead Gameplay Programmer
- Game Development
- C++
- Blueprint Scripting
- Gameplay Ability System
- AI Development
- 3D Math
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 6+ years of game development experience, at least 2 shipped Unreal Engine titles (UE5 preferred), and expertise in areas like GAS, AI, and 3D math.
- Showcase your portfolio: Include links to shipped titles and any personal projects demonstrating your Unreal Engine skills, particularly with gameplay mechanics and systems.
- Address requirements directly: In your cover letter or resume summary, clearly articulate how your experience meets the specific technical and soft skills required for the Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer role at Mob Entertainment.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss your experience with Unreal Engine subsystems, Blueprint/C++ communication, debugging, and performance optimization.
- Demonstrate collaborative spirit: Highlight examples of successful cross-departmental collaboration and your ability to translate creative vision into technical execution.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus for a Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer at Mob Entertainment?
- The primary focus for a Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer at Mob Entertainment is to build rich, tactile, and memorable gameplay experiences using Unreal Engine 5. This involves collaborating with design and engineering to implement player mechanics, AI behaviors, interactive systems, and camera logic, while ensuring performance and scalability.
- What specific Unreal Engine experience is crucial for this Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer role?
- Crucial Unreal Engine experience includes at least 2 shipped titles, preferably in UE5, familiarity with Unreal's networking stack, Blueprint Scripting, and the Gameplay Ability System (GAS). Experience with subsystems like Animation, Sequencer, AI, Physics, and Input is also highly valued.
- How does Mob Entertainment foster collaboration for their Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmers?
- Mob Entertainment fosters collaboration by placing Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmers within cross-functional teams. You'll work directly with designers and other programmers to implement features, debug issues, refactor systems, and support pipeline tools, translating creative vision into technical execution across departments.
- What are the expectations for a candidate applying for the Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer position?
- Candidates are expected to have 6+ years of professional game development experience, with a strong proficiency in Unreal Engine (UE5 preferred). A collaborative mindset, self-motivation, strong debugging skills, and the ability to take a feature from concept to shippable implementation are also key expectations.
- What kind of environment can a Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer expect at Mob Entertainment?
- A Contract Senior/Lead Gameplay Programmer can expect a startup-style environment at Mob Entertainment, characterized by fast iteration, tight collaboration, and the opportunity to make significant contributions. The studio is known for its hit indie horror game 'Poppy Playtime', indicating a dynamic and ambitious workplace.