Programmer, AI & Behavior (Games)

Black Ember Games, an all-new development team within Xsolla, is looking for a Programmer for AI & Behavior to join our team building an asymmetrical multiplayer FPS using Unreal Engine5.

Our small internal team operates with an indie mindset, fueled by our passion for games. We're a diverse, lively group dedicated to exploring new ideas within genres we love to play. We enjoy a hybrid work model, collaborating in our central Berlin and Novi Sad offices. Full remote is a possibility.

As a Programmer for AI & Behavior, you will work first hand on making our NPCs (a crucial element of our design) feel realistic, playing a crucial role in developing the feel of the game. We want our NPCs to feel like an extension of the player and to surprise them with their abilities. As a team with an indie mindset, we are not adherent to a stringent hierarchy and set of processes… if you know a better way to do something, bring that to the table, discuss, and set a new direction in collaboration with design and tech leadership.

Responsibilities

• Implement and iterate on gameplay and AI behavior features — including NPC logic, movement, and decision systems — in Unreal Engine 5.
• Integrate AI behaviors with core gameplay systems such as combat, navigation, perception, and interaction.
• Contribute to tool development or debug visualizations to assist in testing and tuning AI behaviors.
• Collaborate closely with designers, animators, and artists to bring gameplay ideas to life and ensure AI behaviors align with design intent.
• Write clean, maintainable C++ and Blueprint code, following established architecture and coding standards.
• Debug and optimize AI and gameplay systems for performance and stability, identifying bottlenecks and proposing practical solutions.
• Communicate effectively with your team — raise risks early, give feedback on design feasibility, and help ensure features ship on time and at high quality.
• Particulate in code reviews, playtests, and QA sessions to help maintain consistency and polish across gameplay systems.

Requirement

• 3–5 years of professional game programming experience, with at least one shipped title or major update using Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
• Proficient in C++ and comfortable working in both code and Blueprints for gameplay implementation and iteration.
• Hands-on experience with Unreal’s AI systems — Behavior Trees, Blackboard, AI Controllers, Perception, and Navigation.
• Understanding of common AI architectures: state machines, behavior trees, perception systems, and movement logic.
• Solid understanding of 3D math and linear algebra, especially for movement, spatial reasoning, and targeting.
• Performance-minded developer: able to identify inefficiencies, profile gameplay logic, and optimize where needed.
• Comfortable with source control (Perforce) and collaborative workflows.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively across design, animation, and engineering teams.
• Fluent English communication (written and verbal).

Preferred

• Exposure to AI debugging or visualization tools (EQS, gameplay debug panels, etc.).
• Experience with Unreal Gameplay Ability System (GAS), MassEntity, or Chaos
• Familiarity with multiplayer gameplay and replication.
• Experience with live game updates or post-launch feature support.
• Knowledge of build pipelines (Horde, Jenkins) and general packaging workflows.

At Xsolla, we are passionate about providing a conducive environment for our team to thrive personally and professionally. Our Benefits Program caters to the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our full-time employees.

Understanding the detrimental effects of burnout, we offer unlimited Flexible Time Off and 28 paid holidays each year. Personal and professional development is a cornerstone of our ethos at Xsolla. Each employee has a personalized career roadmap, developed in partnership with their manager, aligning individual and company goals. We support this growth through in-house training, independent study, conference attendance, and higher education opportunities.

About company

Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla’s mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help our partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue and create relationships with gamers worldwide.

Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Berlin, Seoul, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and cities around the world, Xsolla supports major gaming titles like Valve, Twitch, Roblox, Ubisoft, Epic Games, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios, Playrix, miHoYo, Pearl Abyss, NCSoft, and more.

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