Blizzard Entertainment · 1 month ago
Lead NPC Gameplay Engineer | Unannounced Project | Irvine, CA
Irvine, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff
$122K/yr - $225K/yr
8+ years expBlizzard Entertainment is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences, known for crafting genre-defining games. The Lead NPC Gameplay Engineer will manage the development of NPC behaviors and combat mechanics, leading a team of engineers and collaborating with various project teams to define and execute technical vision.
GamingSoftwareMMO GamesVideo Games
Responsibilities
Define and champion the long-term technical vision for NPC and combat AI architecture, balancing flexibility, performance, and maintainability
Lead, manage, and mentor the engineers on the NPC gameplay team
Serve as the primary point of contact for NPC mechanics development, partnering with gameplay teams, design, project leadership, and engine teams to define requirements and drive execution
Partner with the production staff and the broader leadership team on milestone planning, prioritization, and development tracking progress
Author and maintain technical design documentation that outlines key project architectural decisions, features, milestones, and technical risks
Enable designers, artists, and other engineers to deliver the vision of the game and deliver compelling player experiences
Optimize team productivity by supporting content-creation pipelines, tool development, and workflow improvements
Champion Blizzard’s core values
Qualification
Required
8+ years of experience in gameplay engineering, or an equivalent combination of training and experience
Experience leading team efforts to deliver real-time NPC gameplay and combat features, including work with ability systems, animation, navigation, and traversal mechanics
Experience shipping AAA game features on PC and modern consoles, including optimization, polish, and post-launch support
Strong C++ programming skills, with the ability to write, debug, and optimize production-quality code
Ability to make frequent, well-structured, and well-tested code commits
Strong understanding of NPC authoring workflows and designer-friendly tooling
Strong knowledge of modern game combat AI paradigms
Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate vision, ideas, and learnings, and provide meaningful feedback
Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills
Proven ability to mentor others, share expertise, and support the growth of engineers
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and people with diverse perspectives
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, or a related field
Experience using Unreal Engine, including both C++ and Blueprint
Prior experience leading a team of engineers in a collaborative environment
Experience optimizing performance for a high number of active NPCs
Experience building tools or workflows that empower designers and other disciplines
Passion for games and game development, with a particular appreciation for high-quality, immersive NPC behavior and implementation
Benefits
Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance
401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching
Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave
Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others
If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance
Company
Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment develops and publishes gaming software and computer games such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone and StarCraft.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Blizzard Entertainment has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
61%
Represents job field similar to this job
Engineering and Development
Creatives and Design
Management and Executive
Arts and Entertainment
Product Management
Marketing
Customer Service and Support
Accounting and Finance
Human Resources
Legal and Compliance
Education and Training
Sales
Trends of Total Sponsorships
*2026 (9)
2025 (60)
2024 (58)
2023 (46)
2022 (51)
2021 (38)
2020 (41)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Walter Kong
SVP, Head of Development, Live Games/Mobile
Jamie Ortiz
Associate Production Manager, Creative Development
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