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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Game Engineer - **Company:** GARDENS INTERACTIVE, INC. - **Location:** Los Angeles, CA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $205,718.0 - $238,348.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Software Bug Management, C++ (Programming Language), Client Server Models, Code Review, Software Debugging, Software Design Patterns, Video Game Development, Software Architecture, Backend, Unreal Engine, Google Meet - **Published:** August 3, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7e5c6b976ba27b68 ## About the Role * 6+ years of professional game development experience, with shipped title(s) built in Unreal Engine. * 2+ years of experience directly managing or leading engineers (formal management, tech lead, or team lead experience). * Strong C++ skills and deep familiarity with Blueprint workflows. * Hands-on experience with online multiplayer systems, including replication, client-server architecture, netcode, and the performance/debugging challenges that come with them. * Solid grasp of software architecture and design patterns, and the judgment to know when to apply them versus keep things simple. * Experience working cross-functionally with design, art, and production in a real production environment. * Comfortable operating with high ownership in a lean team where you wear multiple hats. * Strong communication skills: able to explain technical trade-offs to non-engineers and rally a small team around a plan. Nice to Have * Experience shipping a live-service or online multiplayer game post-launch (patching, live ops, backend services). * Experience at an independent or mid-size studio. * Experience with performance profiling and optimization., Physical Requirements: This is a primarily sedentary, remote role requiring the ability to remain stationary and perform computer-based work for extended periods, including sustained use of monitors, keyboards, mice, and game controllers for a minimum of six hours per day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. Gardens is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities., * You enjoy asking questions before jumping to conclusions. * You adapt comfortably when priorities evolve. * You balance ambition with pragmatism. * You communicate thoughtfully and seek feedback. * You care about helping your teammates succeed. * You embrace uncertainty as part of creating something new. Please Note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States or Canada. Gardens cannot assist with work authorizations or work visas. Applicants must also be willing to work within North American time zones (EST-PST). ## Description * Manage, mentor, and grow a team of game engineers: set goals, run 1:1s, give feedback, and support career development. * Plan, recruit, and interview technical roles within the Gameplay Engineering team. * Own team processes: planning, code review standards, on-call/bug triage, and how work gets scoped and estimated. * Create a healthy, high-trust engineering culture at a small-studio scale. Hands-on Development * Review pull requests and unblock engineers on hard technical problems. * Debug and resolve complex cross-system issues, especially around multiplayer sync, performance, and stability. * Prototype or build out gameplay systems directly when the team needs an extra pair of hands. Cross-functional Collaboration * Partner closely with game design, art, and production to scope features and keep engineering aligned with the creative vision. * Partner with the Technical Director to create a realistic technical roadmap. * Communicate engineering status, risks, and trade-offs clearly to studio leadership., * Reports to the Technical Director. * Leads the Gameplay Engineering team. * Partners closely with the Backend Lead, Technical Director, Production, Design, Art, QA, and the broader engineering organization. How We Work We believe great games are built by people who care deeply about both the work and one another. Our values guide how we collaborate, solve problems, make decisions, and grow together. They're practical behaviors, not slogans, and they're part of how we hire, give feedback, and support one another every day. We're looking for teammates who are excited to: * Stay curious and ask thoughtful questions. * Adapt when plans change. * Exercise good judgment rather than chase perfection. * Care for the success of the whole team, not just their own work. * Pursue ambitious goals while remaining humble enough to keep learning. * Commit fully to the shared adventure we're building together. You'll Thrive Here If... * You enjoy asking questions before jumping to conclusions. * You adapt comfortably when priorities evolve. * You balance ambition with pragmatism. * You communicate thoughtfully and seek feedback. * You care about helping your teammates succeed. * You embrace uncertainty as part of creating something new. Please Note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States or Canada. Gardens cannot assist with work authorizations or work visas. Applicants must also be willing to work within North American time zones (EST-PST). Our Interview Process (all interviews are 1 hour video calls on Google Meet unless otherwise noted) * Step 1: People Operations Introduction * Step 2: Hiring Manager Interview * Step 3: Panel Interview (3 - 1 Hour Sections) * Step 4: Gardeners Debrief * Step 5: Offer ## Related Videos - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE - "Fun and games - and all that comes with it", Back to BASIC & more](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1719-wearedevelopers-live-fun-and-games-and-all-that-comes-with-it-back-to-basic-more) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Are Code Reviews Worth It? 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