Gameplay Programmer

Job Overview

Dark Passenger seeks a skilled Gameplay Programmer to join their team in South Australia. The role involves developing and implementing gameplay mechanics and systems primarily for first-person and third-person perspective games, alongside supporting various game development aspects including animations, character modeling, backend server structures, environmental design, and audio effects all within Unreal Engine 5.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement gameplay mechanics and systems for FPP and TPP games.
• Identify and resolve technical issues and bugs in game development.
• Integrate developed gameplay features with multiplayer networking systems.
• Create interactive simulations backed by advanced shaders and post-processing effects.
• Develop systems for environmental interactions and destructible elements.
• Develop and implement first-person and third-person character animations for male and female characters.
• Collaborate in designing combat and movement systems and organize motion capture sessions.
• Lead a team of animators to achieve high-quality animation delivery.
• Model modular characters, including sculpting and detailing of characters, clothing, and accessories.
• Optimize character models through retopology, UV mapping, texturing, and map baking techniques.
• Implement customizable modular characters with hair and facial hair systems.
• Design and develop multiplayer game backend server systems, including maintenance and optimization of network infrastructure.
• Proactively identify and fix server-side issues affecting gameplay.
• Design and build indoor and outdoor game locations using modular elements, including blockouts and prototypes.
• Set up lighting and atmospheric effects within game environments.
• Create and optimize terrain using micro and macro scale editing techniques and develop advanced shader setups.
• Design and produce buildings, furnishings, and decorative elements with 3D modeling and procedural generation.
• Produce high-quality procedural and modular assets, employing techniques like Nanite and Lumen systems.
• Record and create compelling sound effects and implement audio setups using Unreal Engine's MetaSounds system.
• Sound design for trailers and promotional materials.

Requirements

• Proficient knowledge and experience with Unreal Engine 5, including systems such as Niagara, Chaos, Fluid Ninja, Nanite, and Lumen.
• Strong command of C++ programming for game development.
• Minimum of 2 years’ professional experience in the game development industry.
• Ability to work independently while demonstrating excellent problem-solving capabilities.
• Good teamwork skills to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experienced in creating advanced shaders and post-processing effects.
• Skills in integrating animations with inverse kinematics (IK), simulations, and blendshapes.
• Expertise in human biomechanics relevant to animation quality.
• Competent with 3D sculpting tools such as ZBrush and handling 3D scanning data.
• Knowledgeable in terrain creation and optimization, including shader development and environment detailing.
• Familiar with backend server design for multiplayer game architectures.
• Experience with sound theory, sound effect creation, and implementation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with first-person perspective (FPP) game production.
• Background in developing multiplayer gaming systems and networked gameplay.
• Contribution to at least one completed commercial game project.
• Familiarity with tools such as Houdini, Ember Gen, Marvellous Designer, World Machine, Terragen, Vue, and Wwise.
• Knowledge of eastern martial arts for animation context.
• Experience with procedural 3D modeling and sculpting.
• Leadership experience directing animators or technical teams.

Additional Information

This full-time on-site position demands high self-reliance, problem-solving skills, and teamwork capabilities. Applicants should possess a comprehensive understanding of Unreal Engine 5 and associated advanced systems as well as a strong portfolio of completed projects showcasing relevant skills and experience.