Senior Gameplay Engineer (Contract)

At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 21 million players worldwide. ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine. We are looking for a Contract Generalist Gameplay Engineer to join the Guild Wars 3 team and work closely with designers and other disciplines to build gameplay systems, prototype and explore design ideas, and iterate through regular playtesting. You’ll bring strong Unreal Engine and C++ experience and use that expertise to help turn design goals into practical, high-quality gameplay solutions. You’ll collaborate directly with designers to understand what they’re trying to achieve, identify technical options and tradeoffs, and implement systems that are performant, maintainable, and fun to play. As an experienced Unreal developer, you’ll also be a technical resource for the team, sharing best practices and helping troubleshoot gameplay and engine-related challenges as they arise. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Partner closely with designers and other disciplines to prototype, build, and iterate on gameplay systems and features. - Translate design goals into practical technical solutions, providing options and identifying tradeoffs where appropriate. - Develop high-quality gameplay code in C++ and Unreal Engine. - Diagnose, debug, and optimize gameplay systems with performance and stability in mind. - Participate in regular playtests and use feedback to iterate on features and systems. - Collaborate with technical and non-technical teammates to establish effective workflows, constraints, and development practices. - Share Unreal Engine knowledge and best practices with teammates as needed. WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. - 5 years of programming experience - Professional C++ experience. - Strong professional experience with Unreal Engine 5 - Experience working closely with designers and other disciplines throughout game development. - Experience developing and shipping gameplay systems or features. - Strong debugging, problem-solving, and optimization skills. - Excellent communication and collaboration skills with both technical and non-technical teammates. - A practical, iterative approach to gameplay development and a passion for building great player experiences. NICE TO HAVE - Experience shipping a game using Unreal Engine. - Experience working on AAA, multiplayer, or live-service games. - Experience with console development. - Experience profiling and optimizing gameplay systems in Unreal Engine. This role is remote-friendly, but we are currently prioritizing candidates who are local to the Bellevue, WA area and open to occasional onsite collaboration. Pay Range: $68.79 - $106.62 This is an hourly contract role with overtime pay when applicable. While we share the full range for transparency, typical offers fall between the minimum and midpoint. The role is benefits-eligible through our third-party employer, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and flexible/dependent care accounts. Applications will be accepted until September 28th at 10am PT. If the deadline is extended, the posting will be updated accordingly. If the position is filled before this date, the posting will be removed. Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.