Insomniac Games
Senior Gameplay Programmer, AI (CONTRACT)
Job Summary
This position is for a Senior Gameplay AI Programmer on a contract basis, focusing on designing, implementing, and maintaining enemy, boss, and ally AI for AAA games. The role involves collaborating across teams to enhance player experience, creating flexible systems, and mentoring junior staff. Candidates should have extensive experience with AI feature development, strong C++ skills, and knowledge of performance and memory management. The job emphasizes creating scalable, player-centered systems and working within a collaborative environment that values ownership and technical expertise.
Required Skills
Benefits
Job Description
CONTRACT ROLE
Insomniac is looking for a Senior Gameplay AI Programmer (Contract). In this role you'll collaborate closely with our content teams as we design, implement and maintain industry leading enemy and ally gameplay experiences. A Senior Gameplay Programmer anticipates design needs and player expectations and leverages their experience to provide feedback on code quality, user experience, and performance throughout the course of development. We value ownership, technical expertise, initiative, and effective communication.
At Insomniac, we've embraced a digital-first culture, and support in-office, remote and hybrid working arrangements. We're passionate about creating robust, scalable systems for AAA games and delivering outstanding new player experiences while fostering employee well-being!
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:
- Collaborate across teams to drive player experience and feature quality with a focus on AI<>Player interactions
- Act as a subject matter expert for our AI team, providing mentorship/assistance to more junior staff through code reviews and participation in our AI special interest group · Create features and systems that can work flexibly and dynamically across diverse environments and situations
- Architect and implement systems that are as simple as possible without compromising scalability and extensibility · Accurately estimate assigned work, contribute to efforts to ensure work is in scope, and proactively update team on task status
- Understand complex existing systems and how they interact. Expand or create new systems as needed to deliver on the promise of our features
- Work across teams to understand how our internal customers use the tools and systems that we develop to deliver great gameplay experiences
- Drive new feature and architecture development within AI Systems
Skills you should bring to this role:
- Prior experience owning and delivering features in the areas of enemy, boss, or ally AI
- Extensive C++ skills
- Knowledge of memory management, performance optimization, systems interfaces, and other programming principles and best practices
- Knowledge of mathematical concepts, particularly 3D math and visualization using linear algebra
- An eye for player-centered design
- Ability and willingness to articulate strengths and weaknesses of proposed features, and to advocate for alternatives
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about how we process your personal information, and your data protection rights.
At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click here to learn more.
Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games is an American video game developer based in Burbank, California, and part of PlayStation Studios. It was founded in 1994 by Ted Price as Xtreme Software
See more jobsSafe Remote Job Search Tips
Verify Employer Thoroughly
Research the company's identity thoroughly before applying. Check for a professional website with contacts, active social media, and LinkedIn profiles. Verify details across platforms and look for reviews on Glassdoor or Trustpilot to confirm legitimacy.
Never Pay to Get a Job
Legitimate employers never require payment for applications, training, background checks, or equipment. Always reject upfront payment requests or demands for bank details, even if they claim it's for purchasing necessary work gear on your behalf.
Safeguard Your Personal Information
Protect sensitive data like SSN, bank details, or ID copies. Share this only after accepting a formal, written job offer. Ensure it's submitted via a secure company system or portal, never through insecure channels like standard email attachments.
Scrutinize Communication & Interviews
Watch for communication red flags: poor grammar, generic emails (@gmail), vague details, or undue pressure. Be highly suspicious of interviews held only via text or chat apps; legitimate companies typically use video or phone calls.
Beware of Unrealistic Offers
If an offer's salary or benefits seem unrealistically high for the work involved, be cautious. Research standard pay for similar roles. Offers that appear 'too good to be true' are often scams designed to lure you into providing information or payment.
Insist on a Formal Contract
Always secure and review a formal, written job offer or employment contract before starting work or sharing final personal details. Ensure it clearly defines your role, compensation, key terms, and conditions to avoid misunderstandings or scams.