Principal Engineer

Unknown Worlds is seeking an experienced Principal Engineer to help drive the development effort on a new game project. As a key technical expert, you will play a critical role in building foundational systems in Unreal Engine 5 and guiding our engineering team through the transition to Unreal.

You excel at being a hands-on problem solver, helping to architect, implement, and optimize core gameplay and engine systems while also mentoring the team to deepen their Unreal expertise and develop strong technical foundations. This is a high-impact, broad-scope role—perfect for a generalist who enjoys working across a variety of systems. Reporting to the project engineering lead, you will help surface technical risks, refine development workflows, and contribute directly to the codebase while maintaining a strong focus on team mentorship.

This is a remote position on a fully distributed team.  We are looking for a candidate with the flexibility to collaborate with a team located primarily in the East and West Coast US time zones.

Responsibilities

• Architecting and developing key gameplay features and systems, ensuring they are well-integrated, performant, and aligned with the project’s creative and technical goals.
• Establishing a strong technical foundation for the project, designing scalable systems that will support long-term development and iteration.
• Providing clear and concise mentorship and technical guidance to engineers who are new to Unreal.
• Collaborating closely with the Engineering Lead to proactively identify technical risks and design effective mitigations.
• Contributing to technical documentation, capturing best practices and key architectural decisions to support long-term development.

Qualifications

• Expert level knowledge of game development in C++ and Unreal Engine, demonstrated through multiple shipped titles across multiple platforms.
• Passionate about mentoring and helping others grow–with a proven track record of providing code reviews, architecture reviews, and day-to-day support with empathy and patience.
• T-shaped skillset, with broad technical knowledge across game development systems, deep expertise in at least one area, and strong adaptability to new challenges and technologies.
• Effectively balance hands-on implementation with technical guidance.
• Possess excellent judgement in balancing long-term scalability and robustness with immediate development needs, ensuring pragmatic use of time and effort.

Preferences

• Experience with current generation console development, profiling and optimization.
• Previous work with engineering tools or asset pipelines as a secondary or complimentary skill.

We make games that are accessible and engaging for players all over the world.  We believe in hiring and supporting the most talented and creative people of diverse backgrounds.  That support includes annual professional development and home office stipends, as well as paid time off for volunteer/non-profit work.  Join us and be a part of our growing and innovative studio. 

Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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