Game AI Programmer

Department: Engineering

Experience: 5-8

We are looking for a highly skilled Senior AI Programmer to design, develop, and optimize AI systems that create engaging and believable gameplay experiences. You will work closely with Game Designers, Gameplay Programmers, Producers, and Technical Leads to build scalable AI architectures for player-controlled and non-player-controlled entities across our games.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement robust AI systems for NPCs, enemies, companions, and other game entities.
• Develop and maintain AI architectures such as Behavior Trees, Utility AI, GOAP (Goal-Oriented Action Planning), Finite State Machines (FSMs), and Navigation Systems.
• Collaborate with designers to translate gameplay requirements into scalable AI solutions.
• Build decision-making, perception, combat, navigation, and crowd simulation systems.
• Optimize AI performance for CPU, memory, and platform-specific constraints.
• Develop debugging, profiling, and visualization tools to support AI development.
• Work closely with Gameplay, Animation, and Networking teams to ensure seamless integration of AI systems.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through code reviews and technical guidance.
• Contribute to technical architecture discussions and long-term engineering strategies.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional game development experience with significant AI programming expertise.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and object-oriented programming principles.
• Experience with one or more game engines such as Unreal Engine.
• Deep understanding of:
  • Behavior Trees
  • Finite State Machines (FSM)
  • Utility AI
  • Pathfinding Algorithms (A*, NavMesh)
  • Decision-Making Systems
  • Agent-Based Simulations
• Strong knowledge of data structures, algorithms, optimization, and multithreaded programming.
• Experience developing AI systems for action, RPG, strategy, simulation, shooter, or multiplayer games.
• Strong debugging and performance optimization skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience shipping at least one commercial game title.
• Knowledge of Machine Learning applications in games.
• Experience with procedural content generation and advanced AI techniques.
• Understanding of multiplayer/networked gameplay and AI synchronization.
• Experience building AI authoring tools for designers.
• Familiarity with cloud-based or server-side AI systems.

• AI architecture design and trade-offs.
• Behavior Trees vs Utility AI vs GOAP.
• Navigation and pathfinding systems.
• NPC combat and tactical decision-making.
• Performance optimization techniques.
• Multithreading challenges in AI systems.
• Large-scale AI simulations and crowd systems.
• C++ memory management and engine-level programming.

What Success Looks Like

• Delivers scalable and maintainable AI systems.
• Collaborates effectively with design and engineering teams.
• Improves gameplay quality through intelligent AI behaviors.
• Identifies and solves complex technical challenges independently.
• Mentors team members and contributes to engineering excellence.

Nice to Have

• Experience in AAA, AA, or successful mobile/live-service games.
• Contributions to AI-focused game development projects.
• Passion for gaming and a strong understanding of player experience.