Intermediate Gameplay Software Engineer (Unreal Engine 5)

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.