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# Principal Gameplay Programmer New

- **Company:** The Junior
- **Location:** United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Computer Animation, Artificial Intelligence, Video Game Development, Interaction Design, Visual Effects, Unreal Engine
- **Published:** September 23, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.gamesjobsdirect.com/job/ingame-recruitment/principal-gameplay-programmer/359796

## About the Role

* 5+ years of professional gameplay engineering experience
 * Strong proficiency with Unity or Unreal Engine
 * Experience building gameplay systems, character interactions, or interactive 3D experiences
 * Strong understanding of game feel, responsiveness, and player feedback systems
 * Experience creating and iterating on prototypes in fast-paced environments
 * Passion for polish, including animation timing, easing, motion, VFX, and haptics
 * Excellent collaboration skills with product, design, and creative stakeholders
 * Ability to balance big-picture systems thinking with attention to small interaction details

Nice to have:

 * Experience with procedural animation or physics-based motion systems
 * Strong eye for VFX, UI motion, and visual polish
 * Experience building character controllers or expressive character behaviors
 * Background in indie game development or highly polished consumer products
 * Interest in stylized, personality-driven worlds and AI-powered interactive experiences

## Description

We're looking for a Principal Gameplay Engineer to define and own the core interactions that make an AI-powered companion world feel alive. This is a highly hands-on role where you'll prototype new features, shape moment-to-moment gameplay, and create the polish, responsiveness, and "game feel" that users instantly notice. From character interactions and navigation to motion, feedback, and visual effects, you'll be responsible for crafting experiences that feel expressive, memorable, and delightful.
You'll work closely with Product, Design, and Creative teams to turn rough concepts into playable prototypes, rapidly iterate based on feedback, and ship experiences that elevate the personality of the product. This role is ideal for someone who combines deep technical expertise with a strong creative instinct for animation, interaction design, and player experience.


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