Senior Game Programmer (f/m/x)

Our Story:

At DECK 13 Interactive, we’re more than just a game development studio—we’re a diverse, passionate community of creators dedicated to crafting unforgettable gaming experiences. Since our founding in 2001, in the heart of Frankfurt, Germany, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in PC and console games. Now part of the PulluP Entertainment group, our team of around 100 talented professionals continues to shape the future of gaming.
We’re the minds behind titles like Lords of the Fallen , The Surge series, and Atlas Fallen , known for their rich worlds and immersive gameplay. But we believe the best games are still ahead of us, and that’s where you come in.

Your Quest:

As our Senior Game Programmer (f/m/x), you’ll play a key role in designing and implementing innovative systems and features across Unreal Engine 5, our development tools, and gameplay. Collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, you’ll develop and maintain core engine components, enhance our development tools, and implement compelling gameplay mechanics.
You'll thrive in this role if you're a generalist programmer who genuinely enjoys wearing many hats, making especially significant contributions to gameplay and animation programming.
This role will put you at the heart of transforming creative concepts into technical realities. Your expertise will be essential to developing innovative visions and crafting impactful next-generation gaming experiences.

Your mission includes:

• Designing, implementing, and maintaining systems across Unreal Engine, development tools, and gameplay and animation features, ensuring performance, scalability, and stability
• Collaborating with designers, animators, and other teams to align technical solutions with the creative vision of the project
• Implementing and maintaining State Machines, Blendspaces, IK-Systems, and Montages within gameplay, and procedural and dynamic animation systems for adaptive in-game behavior (e.g., foot IK, reactive hit animations, Lipsync)
• Utilizing visual scripting systems to develop and implement features
• Developing and maintaining efficient and user-friendly tools and workflows
• Debugging and resolving technical issues across engine, tools, gameplay, and animation systems
• Providing mentorship and sharing technical expertise with team members, fostering growth and maintaining coding standards
• Evaluating and optimizing workflows to support sustainable development practices for art, audio, gameplay, and animation features
• Staying informed about emerging industry trends and technologies, contributing to innovative advancements in game development

Your Toolkit:

• Proficiency in C++ programming with a strong understanding of programming principles and system design
• 4+ years of professional experience in game programming using Unreal Engine, encompassing engine-level work, tools development, and gameplay implementation
• Experience developing custom tools and editor extensions for Unreal Engine
• Significant experience with visual scripting systems, like Unreal Engine Blueprints
• Strong experience with Animation Blueprints, Control Rig, State Machines, and Blendspaces
• Knowledge of procedural animation and dynamic real-time animation systems
• Proven ability to debug, optimize, and maintain high-performance, scalable systems across engine, tools, and gameplay
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and convey complex concepts clearly
• Demonstrated success in shipping at least one game title, with a passion for creating engaging and polished gameplay experiences

You Get Extra XP for:

• Familiarity with additional programming languages, like C# or Python
• Experience contributing to open-source projects or releasing independent game projects
• Deep knowledge of Unreal Engine architecture
• Advanced knowledge of AI systems, including behavior trees and decision-making frameworks, or advanced animation systems and their integration with gameplay
• Cross-platform development experience, with a focus on optimizing for multiple platforms across engine, tools, and gameplay
• Experience working with and integrating motion capture systems, both real-time and post-processed
• Familiarity with MetaHuman systems and workflows
• A strong passion for gaming and game development, alongside a commitment to tracking industry trends and advancements in engine technology

Power-Ups You Receive:

At DECK 13 Interactive, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in creating an environment where you feel valued, supported, and empowered to do your best work. Here’s what we offer to make that happen:

• A modern, centrally located office in Frankfurt, Germany (near Messe)
• Free language courses to help you expand your skills
• Monthly allowances for remote working and gym memberships
• A monthly allowance for the Deutschlandticket to ease your commute
• Tax-free Probonio vouchers available every month
• Free access to an online mental health platform (Bloom) to support your well-being
• Opportunities for career growth with a yearly learning & development budget
• 28 days of paid vacation, plus the 24th and 31st of December off

Our Commitment to Inclusivity:

DECK 13 Interactive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other characteristic that makes you unique.
We believe that diverse teams create the best games, and we’re dedicated to building a workplace where everyone can thrive.