Gameplay Programmer

About the role

Behaviour Interactive is actively seeking a passionate and skilled Gameplay Programmer to join our Montreal studio and play a central role in the continued success of Dead by Daylight. In this permanent, full-time position, you will become an integral part of a dedicated team responsible for one of the most iconic horror franchises in interactive entertainment. Your primary focus will be on the design, implementation, and maintenance of the complex systems that drive the asymmetrical gameplay loop. You will own the lifecycle of core gameplay features, ensuring they are robust, performant, and true to the intended player experience. This role demands a deep collaboration with designers, artists, and animators to transform creative concepts into tangible, interactive mechanics. You will be the technical guardian of the game's feel, ensuring that every interaction, from the terror of the chase to the thrill of the escape, remains balanced and immersive for millions of players around the world.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead design intake sessions for new gameplay features, translating high-level concepts into clear implementation goals and technical documentation for the Dead by Daylight team.
• Architect and develop robust systems that power complex combat interactions, ensuring stability and performance across PC and console platforms for the entire production schedule.
• Partner with artists and animators to bind visual effects and motion captures to gameplay logic, creating the convincing and terrifying horror moments that define the Behaviour Interactive IP.
• Run structured tests with the QA department to identify, isolate, and resolve bugs and performance bottlenecks before they impact live player environments.
• Collaborate closely with designers to balance risk and fun, iterating on the design of new monsters and survivor abilities to maintain fair yet thrilling encounters for the community.
• Prepare and verify builds for internal and external partners, ensuring strict performance targets are met on a wide variety of hardware configurations and system requirements.
• Diagnose and address issues reported from public matches and special live events, ensuring a stable and enjoyable experience for the active player base.
• Maintain clear, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation for all gameplay systems, enabling future teams to understand, extend, and build upon your work efficiently.
• Implement features using a test-driven workflow, writing clean, maintainable, and scalable C++ code that stands up to the demands of a live-service environment.
• Optimize core gameplay systems to eliminate latency and ensure responsive controls, directly contributing to the tight feel that the franchise is known for.
• Analyze player data and feedback to identify systemic issues and propose technical solutions that enhance overall gameplay balance and retention.
• Support the integration of new tools and pipelines into the existing codebase, facilitating a smooth and efficient development workflow for the entire team.
• Act as a subject matter expert on gameplay programming, providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior developers within the studio.
• Ensure all development practices adhere to the project's coding standards, version control protocols, and release management procedures.

Requirements

• Bring a minimum of three years of professional experience in game development, with a strong focus on C++ and a proven track record of delivering production-ready software.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of memory management and common optimization patterns specific to interactive products and real-time systems.
• Possess the ability to read complex feature descriptions, design documents, and technical briefs, translating them into reliable, production-ready C++ code.
• Exhibit excellent communication skills, essential for collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams under the pressure of strict release schedules and live-service demands.
• Show a commitment to writing clean, maintainable, and well-documented code that can withstand the test of time and the needs of a live game.
• Have a strong grasp of software development principles, including object-oriented design, data structures, and algorithms, to create scalable and efficient systems.
• Be comfortable working within console development environments and adhering to the strict certification and performance requirements of platform holders.
• Display strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive attitude toward debugging and resolving complex technical issues in a high-stakes environment.

Nice to have

• Experience with live-service games and a history of working on games with long-term operational support.
• Familiarity with gameplay programming for asymmetrical multiplayer experiences or competitive online titles.
• Knowledge of performance profiling tools and advanced debugging techniques for C++ applications.
• An understanding of animation systems and how to integrate them seamlessly with gameplay logic.
• Experience working with version control systems such as Git in a collaborative, multi-branch development environment.

Practical notes

• This role is based in Montreal, Quebec.
• The compensation range for this position is 96,000 CAD to 130,000 CAD.
• The engagement type is a permanent, full-time position.