Senior Gameplay Programmer

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences. 

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry. 

Rockstar Australia is looking for talented developers whose skill set combines technical excellence with a passion for making games. You will be working as part of a small but experienced team, ideally taking responsibility for one or more classic game technology areas, but also be capable of stepping outside your comfort zone to work in other areas as necessary.

Candidates must have demonstrated technical abilities working in the video games industry or a relevant related field. All candidates must have extensive knowledge and experience in software development and be comfortable working in large codebases with complicated build processes.

This is a full-time, permanent and in-office position based in Rockstar’s state-of-the-art game development studio in Sydney, Australia. 

WHAT WE DO

• Build and modify core gameplay systems and control interfaces using a combination of C++ and game script where appropriate.
• Work closely with animators, designers and artists in the studio, but also coordinate with other Rockstar studios to achieve our goals.
• Follow an iterative process to tune and polish features to establish the correct look and feel for our games.
• Create tools to facilitate the implementation of game features, improve iteration times and increase the productivity of all teams, not just the design department.
• Produce stable, reliable and well-documented code which is often complex and intricate, as well as debug, analyse and optimise code created by colleagues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with the design and content teams to architect, engineer and implement gameplay features and systems which facilitate the creation of exciting new gameplay experiences.
• Liaise with multiple departments and studios to identify potential improvements and then modify/extend existing gameplay systems.
• Adhere to strict deadlines and scope work appropriately to deliver the quality we are known for.
• React to design changes and related feedback with thought out solutions and effective planning to achieve the goals.
• Help to guide and support less experienced team members.

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years in low-level software development, including at least 2 years in the video games industry or a relevant related field.
• Ability to write well-structured and highly optimised C++ code.
• A strong understanding of top-down design, object-oriented programming, design patterns, and game design principles.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Passionate about gameplay, system design, and methodologies that will support a team that is similarly passionate about creating games.
• Candidates must be highly motivated, positive and personable, with the ability to work as part of a team.
• Adaptable and able to multi-task and prioritise work based on changing schedules and feedback/critiques.
• Ability to architect, engineer, and implement clean and concise APIs.
• Strong math skills, knowledge of vectors, matrices and linear algebra.

PLUSES

Please note that these are desirable skills and are not required to apply for the position.

• Prior experience working in large codebases with proprietary engines.
• At least one shipped title; preferably on the Xbox or Playstation consoles.
• Knowledge of mobile devices and development processes a bonus.
• In-depth knowledge of multithreaded synchronisation primitives.
• Experience of game design/scripting in a professional environment.
• Online portfolio of previous work (code samples strongly advised).
• Exposure to scripting languages such as C#, Python or Lua.
• Strong familiarity with Rockstar products is a massive plus.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a CV and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect. In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process in order for such applicants to be considered for the position for which they are applying, as well as to qualified employees to enable them to perform the essential functions of their roles. If you need more information about Rockstar’s reasonable accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please notify your recruiter during the interview process.

If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.

#LI-DB1