Lead Tools & Engine Programmer (Unreal Engine)

We are looking for an experienced Lead Tools & Engine Programmer with deep knowledge of Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5), engine systems, and editor tooling. This role focuses on building the technical foundation that supports designers, artists, and engineers by creating powerful tools, pipelines, and engine extensions. You will lead and mentor a team of tools and engine engineers, define technical direction, and ensure high-quality, scalable systems that support efficient development for mobile and browser-based platforms. This is a core technical leadership role with a direct impact on productivity, workflows, and overall game quality.

Must Have

• Lead and mentor a team of tools and engine programmers.
• Set coding standards, technical guidelines, and best practices.
• Define system architecture and long-term technical direction for tools and engine development.
• Design, build, and optimize internal tools, pipelines, and production workflows.
• Extend and customize Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5) to meet project-specific needs.
• Develop runtime systems, engine modules, and advanced editor utilities.
• Lead profiling, debugging, and optimization of engine and editor systems.
• Improve build times, asset management workflows, and editor performance.
• Ensure systems scale efficiently across mobile and browser platforms.
• Work closely with gameplay, rendering, technical art, backend, and production teams.
• 7+ years of professional experience in game engine or tools programming.
• 3+ years in a senior or lead engineering role.
• Expert-level C++ skills with deep understanding of Unreal Engine internals (UE4/UE5).
• Proven experience building editor tools, engine extensions, custom pipelines, or engine modifications.
• Strong background in system architecture, engine-level programming, and scalable tool development.
• Extensive experience in profiling, debugging, and optimizing engine and editor performance.
• Solid understanding of multi-platform development, especially mobile and browser environments.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and communication skills.

Good to Have

• Experience designing or leading build automation and CI/CD pipelines.
• Exposure to cloud-based game technologies, WebAssembly, Pixel Streaming, or browser runtime systems.
• Familiarity with large-scale asset pipelines and distributed production workflows.
• Previous experience leading tools or engine teams on AAA-scale projects.

Perks & Benefits

• Own and drive the tools and engine strategy for a next-generation AAA Unreal Engine project.
• High-impact role influencing technical direction, workflows, and final product quality.
• Work in a strongly engineering-led environment focused on scalability and performance.
• Competitive compensation and long-term growth opportunities.

About the job

Role Summary

We are looking for an experienced Lead Tools & Engine Programmer with deep knowledge of Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5), engine systems, and editor tooling. This role focuses on building the technical foundation that supports designers, artists, and engineers by creating powerful tools, pipelines, and engine extensions.

You will lead and mentor a team of tools and engine engineers, define technical direction, and ensure high-quality, scalable systems that support efficient development for mobile and browser-based platforms.

This is a core technical leadership role with a direct impact on productivity, workflows, and overall game quality.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership

• Lead and mentor a team of tools and engine programmers.
• Set coding standards, technical guidelines, and best practices.
• Define system architecture and long-term technical direction for tools and engine development.
• Work closely with senior technical leadership to plan future engine and pipeline improvements.

2. Tools & Engine Development

• Design, build, and optimize internal tools, pipelines, and production workflows.
• Extend and customize Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5) to meet project-specific needs.
• Develop runtime systems, engine modules, and advanced editor utilities.
• Create tools that significantly improve efficiency for content, design, and engineering teams.

3. Performance & Optimization

• Lead profiling, debugging, and optimization of engine and editor systems.
• Improve build times, asset management workflows, and editor performance.
• Ensure systems scale efficiently across mobile and browser platforms.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with gameplay, rendering, technical art, backend, and production teams.
• Ensure smooth integration and alignment between tools, engine systems, and gameplay features.
• Maintain clear and up-to-date technical documentation for all tools and pipelines.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years of professional experience in game engine or tools programming.
• 3+ years in a senior or lead engineering role.
• Expert-level C++ skills with deep understanding of Unreal Engine internals (UE4/UE5).
• Proven experience building editor tools, engine extensions, custom pipelines, or engine modifications.
• Strong background in system architecture, engine-level programming, and scalable tool development.
• Extensive experience in profiling, debugging, and optimizing engine and editor performance.
• Solid understanding of multi-platform development, especially mobile and browser environments.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and communication skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience designing or leading build automation and CI/CD pipelines.
• Exposure to cloud-based game technologies, WebAssembly, Pixel Streaming, or browser runtime systems.
• Familiarity with large-scale asset pipelines and distributed production workflows.
• Previous experience leading tools or engine teams on AAA-scale projects.

Why This Role

• Own and drive the tools and engine strategy for a next-generation AAA Unreal Engine project.
• High-impact role influencing technical direction, workflows, and final product quality.
• Work in a strongly engineering-led environment focused on scalability and performance.
• Competitive compensation and long-term growth opportunities.

Please note: This position is for one of Playdawn's clients, and successful candidates will be hired directly by the client, not by Playdawn.

Our client is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics. They believe that diversity fuels innovation and creativity, and they strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to shared success.