Senior AI Programmer

About the Role

Epic Games represents a pinnacle of interactive entertainment, defined by a culture of innovation and boundary-pushing creativity. The Senior AI Programmer role is central to this mission, requiring a technical leader who can own the entire lifecycle of gameplay AI. You will be responsible for transforming high-level creative concepts from designers and artists into robust, polished, and live-service-ready features. Your work will directly power the intelligent systems within Unreal Engine projects and the expansive Fortnite ecosystem. This position demands close collaboration with multiple disciplines - art, design, and engine technology - to elevate the standard for interactive storytelling and dynamic gameplay. The role is based in North America and offers a competitive annual compensation of $168,750.00.

What You'll Do

Your daily contributions will be instrumental in delivering the AI features that define modern interactive experiences. You will orchestrate the intake of AI requirements, acting as a technical translator to convert creative visions from designers and artists into actionable, executable plans. A primary focus will be architecting and maintaining the build pipelines for enemy logic and navigation systems that form the backbone of the Fortnite AI ecosystem. You will continuously monitor runtime performance and memory metrics, iterating on AI behavior to meet strict quality benchmarks across all supported platforms.

Shipping features successfully necessitates seamless coordination with online systems teams to ensure integration is frictionless. You will foster strong partnerships with art and design groups, prototyping novel player interactions that are both intuitive and highly engaging. A critical part of the workflow involves debugging complex issues within live service environments, requiring a methodical and creative approach to problem-solving. You will be responsible for translating dense design documentation into reliable C++ implementations that integrate smoothly with Unreal Engine's core systems. By guiding collaboration between programmers, designers, and artists, you will ensure alignment on feature objectives and technical feasibility, driving projects from conception to completion.

Requirements

The ideal candidate must meet a specific set of professional and technical qualifications to succeed in this demanding role. Professional game development experience is mandatory, with a proven track record of shipping titles that incorporate sophisticated AI systems. A deep, holistic understanding of games is essential, allowing you to clearly articulate the trade-offs between design ambition and technical constraints. Superior C++ programming skills are non-negotiable, as you will be developing complex AI gameplay mechanics and associated tooling.

Exceptional communication skills are required to work effectively with a wide variety of team members, including artists, designers, and engineers. You must be self-motivated, capable of managing your priorities and workflow with minimal direct supervision. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities are expected, enabling you to devise solutions that go beyond conventional methodologies. Hands-on experience with live service games is a mandatory requirement for success, as this role involves navigating the unique challenges of persistent online worlds. A sustained, genuine interest in online games is necessary to thrive over the long term in this position. You will be expected to handle development cycles that span multiple supported platforms, ensuring a consistent level of quality and performance in every release.

Nice to Have

While not mandatory, prior professional experience with online games is highly valued. This background provides crucial context for understanding live service challenges, player expectations, the complexities of online interactions, and the nuances of long-term product support.

Technical Skills and Tools

Mastery of C++ is fundamental to this role and serves as the primary programming language for implementation. Proficiency with the Unreal Engine is equally critical. Hands-on experience with core AI technologies is essential, including but not limited to Behavior Trees, Finite State Machines, Pathfinding algorithms, and Animation systems. These technical skills are critical for shaping the advanced gameplay AI systems that define the player experience at Epic Games.