Lead Engineer

Role Description

We are seeking a Lead Engineer who will be the engineering player-coach on a live client engagement: still hands-on in C++ and Unreal, but setting the approach, mentoring the engineers on the project, and partnering directly with the client and producer when technical decisions need a clear voice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Hands-On Engineering (~35%)
  • Write, review, and own C++ code on the engagement — Lead Engineer is not a title that means you stop coding
  • Build and maintain core gameplay, engine, or systems components as required by the engagement
  • Unblock engineers on the team when they are stuck — architecture calls, engine deep-dives, debugging
  • Performance profiling and optimization across target platforms (console, PC, or mobile as required)
• Team Leadership (~20%)
  • Lead and mentor engineers on the project team — grow their craft, review their work, catch drift early
  • Run engineering rituals: sprint planning, technical reviews, code reviews
  • Escalate resourcing or capability gaps to production before they affect delivery
  • Provide honest engineering assessments to support hiring and team growth
• Client & Production Partnership (~15%)
  • Be the technical voice in client conversations — represent engineering with clarity, not jargon
  • Partner with the Senior Game Producer to keep technical scope in sync with the schedule
  • Surface trade-off decisions early: 'here is the risk, here are the options, here is my recommendation'
  • Maintain the client's confidence that Devoted's engineering bar is where it needs to be

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software engineering experience with at least 4 years in AAA or mid-tier game development
• 2+ years as a Lead Engineer, Principal Engineer, or equivalent — with real ownership of technical direction, not just senior IC with a bigger title
• At least 2 shipped commercial titles as a lead or senior contributor — on PC, console, or both
• Deep Unreal Engine 5 expertise: C++ at an architectural level, not just usage; Blueprint proficiency; engine subsystem familiarity (rendering, physics, gameplay framework, GAS a strong plus)
• Strong C++ fundamentals — systems design, memory management, performance reasoning
• Experience leading small engineering teams and growing engineers' craft
• Comfort in client-facing environments — can hold a technical conversation with a client engineering lead without translation
• Remote-first discipline: async communication, documentation habits, strong written English

Preferred

• Experience in a co-development or external development studio environment
• Multi-platform development experience: console certification, platform compliance (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo)
• Online multiplayer systems, dedicated server architecture, or live-service game experience

Benefits

• This would be a full-time employment role with standard industry benefits in Canada