Gameplay Software Engineer

Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects, which encompass world-class IPs as well as our own creations across multiple genres.

In 2022, we announced that our studio is implementing a four-day work week as well as supporting in-studio, remote within Canada, and hybrid work arrangements as permanent options to our employees.

Blackbird Interactive is looking for an intermediate‑level gameplay engineer to design, implement, and polish the moment‑to‑moment fun in our Unreal Engine 5 projects. You’ll own features from prototype through ship, collaborate with designers and artists, and help mentor newer engineers while expanding your own mastery of UE5’s systems.

This role is remote‑friendly in Canada (Pacific‑time overlap required)

What you’ll tackle

• Core gameplay features – Build and refine movement, combat, traversal, AI behaviours, and progression systems in C++ and Blueprints.
• Systems architecture – Design modular, data‑driven gameplay systems that scale across PC and console SKUs.
• Cross‑disciplinary collaboration – Work hand‑in‑hand with design, art, animation and audio to translate ideas into shippable features; drive play‑tests and incorporate feedback.
• Performance & stability – Profile, optimise, and debug gameplay code to hit framerate, memory, and loading targets; contribute to automated test coverage.
• Technical leadership – Provide code reviews, share best practices, and guide associate engineers through pair‑programming and informal mentorship.
• Continuous improvement – Stay current with UE5 subsystems (GAS, Chaos, MassAI), propose tooling or workflow enhancements, and present findings in lunch‑and‑learn sessions.

You’ll thrive here if you…

• Deliver solid C++ in Unreal Engine 4/5 with 3+ years of professional game‑development experience.
• Have shipped at least one commercial title or substantial live‑ops update featuring your gameplay work.
• Enjoy rapid iteration, data‑driven design, and balancing creative intent with technical realities.
• Communicate clearly across disciplines and give constructive feedback in code reviews.
• Are comfortable with Perforce, Git, or similar version‑control systems and modern debugging/profiling tools.

Bonus XP

• Deep familiarity with Gameplay Ability System, MassEntity, or Chaos physics.
• Experience integrating animation state machines, behaviour trees, or EQS.
• Track record improving build pipelines, CI, or automated testing for gameplay code.
• Passion for accessibility and inclusivity in game mechanics.

$90,000 - $135,000 a year