About the RoleWe are seeking a hands-on Senior Gameplay Engineer with strong Unreal Engine expertise, particularly in Blueprint development, gameplay implementation, and performance optimization. The position supports ARK: Survival of the Fittest, a competitive multiplayer experience built within the ARK ecosystem.
This role focuses on implementing, debugging, and optimizing gameplay systems within an established Unreal Engine project. You will work closely with designers and engineers to translate gameplay requirements into functional, maintainable implementations, with an emphasis on practical problem-solving and rapid iteration.
The ideal candidate is comfortable taking ownership of loosely defined tasks, developing initial solutions independently, and refining them through feedback and playtesting. Strong experience with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG), UI widgets, and player-facing interfaces is particularly desirable.
This is primarily an implementation role rather than a technical leadership or engine architecture position. We value engineers who understand how systems work together, recognize performance implications, and can deliver effective solutions without unnecessary complexity.
Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Hybrid preferred in Loveland, Colorado (preferred 4 days/week onsite).
Remote may be considered for qualified candidates in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
Responsibilities- Implement, maintain, and improve gameplay systems using Unreal Engine Blueprints.
- Diagnose and resolve gameplay bugs, integration problems, and performance issues within an existing production environment.
- Optimize Blueprint systems for runtime performance, maintainability, and multiplayer functionality.
- Develop and extend player-facing interfaces, including UMG widgets, menus, HUD elements, and gameplay interactions.
- Work closely with designers to translate gameplay requirements into functional systems, iterating on implementations through feedback.
- Independently prototype solutions to loosely defined problems, refining them as requirements become clearer.
- Implement gameplay features that function correctly within multiplayer environments, including replication and network-aware behavior.
- Improve existing systems and workflows while maintaining compatibility with established game architecture.
- Participate in playtesting, technical reviews, and collaborative problem-solving across disciplines.
- Use established AI-assisted development tools and workflows to support efficient implementation, debugging, and iteration.
Minimum Requirements- 5+ years of professional game development experience, or equivalent demonstrated experience delivering production-quality gameplay systems.
- Strong proficiency with Unreal Engine 4 or 5, particularly Blueprint-based gameplay development.
- Demonstrated experience implementing, debugging, and optimizing gameplay systems within established projects.
- Understanding of Unreal Engine gameplay architecture, system interactions, and performance considerations.
- Working knowledge of multiplayer gameplay implementation, including replication and network-aware Blueprint practices.
- Ability to independently develop practical solutions from high-level requirements and improve them through feedback.
- Strong troubleshooting skills and a pragmatic approach to solving technical problems.
- Experience collaborating with designers, artists, and other engineers in a production environment.
- Ability to produce maintainable, well-structured implementations while balancing quality with development speed.
Nice to Have- Strong experience with Unreal Motion Graphics (UMG), Blueprint widgets, HUD systems, menus, and player-facing UI.
- Experience working with ARK: Survival Ascended, the ARK DevKit/Modkit, or similar large-scale modding environments.
- Experience developing or optimizing competitive multiplayer gameplay systems.
- Proficiency with Unreal Engine C++ for extending Blueprint functionality or addressing performance limitations.
- Experience with survival, sandbox, or systemic multiplayer games.
- Experience with AI-assisted development tools, including Codex, MCP integrations, or comparable workflows.
- Experience implementing gameplay prototypes directly from high-level design goals.
- Familiarity with console development, platform performance constraints, or Unreal Engine internals.
Salary Range$116,000 - $142,000 Annually (depending on experience)
Why Join the Studio Sirens Team?- True focus on work/life balance
- Paid company holidays, vacation, and separate sick leave
- Medical, dental, vision, and Life/LTD
- 401(k) with company match
Application DeadlineApplications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Work Authorization RequirementsApplicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. This position does not offer visa sponsorship now or in the future (including H-1B).
Additional InformationAs part of the Company's activities in video game development, publishing, and short-form video content creation, certain projects, discussions, or creative materials may include themes, visuals, language, or subject matter that some individuals could find mature, violent, sexual, graphic, or otherwise sensitive in nature (collectively referred to as "Mature Content"). Examples may include, but are not limited to, depictions or descriptions of combat, violence, adult themes or relationships, suggestive or satirical humor, or strong language. Employees are expected to engage with such material in a professional and creative context as part of their job duties.
