Job Description
The Senior Gameplay Engineer will play a pivotal role in shaping the technical foundation of the creative mode gameplay system and its underlying infrastructure. This position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of gameplay features with the broader game development ecosystem. The role involves working within the project team and coordinating with multiple operations teams across Avalon to align on service requirements and deliverables. Key responsibilities include maintaining the technical integrity of the services and technologies developed by the server team, ensuring they meet performance, scalability, and maintainability standards. The Senior Gameplay Engineer will also serve as the central liaison for cross-team development efforts, bridging the creative mode team with shared game engine teams and platform teams to translate project goals into actionable technical solutions.
Additionally, this role will oversee the technical implementation of creative mode features, ensuring compatibility with existing systems and future scalability. The Senior Gameplay Engineer will collaborate with design and art teams to align gameplay functionality with visual/interactive elements, while also monitoring performance metrics to identify bottlenecks and optimize player experience. This position will also involve leading the integration of new technologies and features into the gameplay framework, maintaining system stability and innovation within the game's architecture.
Key Responsibilities
- Define the technical vision for the creative mode gameplay, working closely with the lead architect to ensure alignment with overall project goals and industry standards.
- Collaborate with the project team and multiple operations teams within Avalon to establish and validate service requirements, ensuring they are clearly defined and met through coordinated efforts.
- Ensure the efficiency, maintainability, and scalability of the services and technologies developed by the server team, optimizing performance for large-scale player interactions and system stability.
- Act as the primary point of contact for cross-team development on the creative mode, facilitating communication between the central-service shared game engine team and platform team to execute project requirements effectively.
- Mentor a small team of engineers responsible for creative mode development, providing guidance on technical challenges and fostering a culture of innovation and best practices.
- Partner with the Production staff and leadership team to plan and track development milestones, ensuring timely delivery of features while maintaining quality and alignment with project timelines.
- Conduct thorough evaluations of internal and external technologies and tools, identifying solutions that best meet the project's requirements and goals while balancing cost, complexity, and performance.
- Author comprehensive documentation for the engine and gameplay stack, communicating technical constraints, best practices, and implementation guidelines to both internal teams and external operations departments.
- Educate intermediate and junior team members on best practices for gameplay development, including the intricacies of MMO architecture, system design principles, and collaborative workflows.
- Collaborate with QA and testing teams to ensure the robustness of creative mode features, identifying and resolving technical issues before deployment.
- Stay updated on emerging technologies and industry trends, proposing innovative solutions that enhance the creative mode experience while maintaining technical feasibility.
- Lead the integration of new features and technologies into the existing gameplay framework, ensuring compatibility with current systems and future scalability.
- Coordinate with design and art teams to translate creative concepts into technical specifications, ensuring alignment between gameplay functionality and visual/interactive elements.
- Monitor and analyze performance metrics for the creative mode, identifying bottlenecks and opportunities for optimization to enhance player experience and system efficiency.
- Collaborate with the leadership team to define long-term technical strategies for the creative mode, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation within the game's architecture.
Job Requirements
- Proven experience as a gameplay engineer or similar role, with a strong background in developing scalable and efficient game systems for multiplayer environments.
- Deep technical expertise in game engine architecture, including knowledge of C++ and/or C# for implementation, as well as experience with networking protocols and distributed systems.
- Strong understanding of MMO development principles, including server-client architecture, synchronization mechanisms, and performance optimization techniques.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams including architects, designers, producers, and platform engineers.
- Ability to mentor and guide junior engineers, providing technical leadership and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team.
- Experience with agile development methodologies, including sprint planning, backlog management, and iterative development cycles.
- Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues and implement effective solutions for gameplay systems.
- Proficiency in documentation and technical communication, with the ability to create clear and concise documentation for game systems and share knowledge with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative development tools, ensuring efficient workflow management and code integration across teams.
- Knowledge of cloud computing platforms and scalable infrastructure solutions, with experience in deploying and managing game services in distributed environments.
- Ability to evaluate and integrate new technologies, ensuring they align with project requirements and enhance the creative mode experience without compromising system stability.
- Strong understanding of performance optimization techniques, including profiling tools, memory management, and latency reduction strategies for multiplayer games.
- Experience with cross-platform development, ensuring creative mode features are compatible with multiple platforms and devices while maintaining consistent performance and user experience.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet project deadlines while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, balancing individual contributions with collaborative efforts to achieve project objectives.
