Expert Gameplay AI Software Engineer

<p> </p> <h1><strong>Small Axe</strong></h1> <p><strong>Who We Are</strong></p> <p>Founded in 2023, Small Axe is the newest stand alone studio at 2K looking to push game development boundaries to bring 2K's next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. We're building a world-class team at our new Vancouver, BC location where our goal is to deliver an exceptional experience through bold ideas, technical excellence, and creative collaboration. We're seeking passionate and driven professionals across all areas of game development to help shape this ambitious vision. If you’re interested in tackling unique challenges and think you have what it takes to level up our team, we encourage you to apply!</p> <h2><strong>What We Need</strong></h2> <p>We’re looking for an Expert Gameplay AI Software Engineer to help build the intelligence behind our next AAA sports title. You’ll design and implement AI systems that drive team-based decision-making, play selection, positional awareness, and realistic athletic behavior in Unreal Engine 5. We need someone who combines deep algorithm expertise with a passion for team sports and a collaborative approach to working with designers, animators, and gameplay engineers.</p> <h2><strong>What You Will Do</strong></h2> <p>● Architect and build AI systems for team-based sports gameplay in UE5</p> <p>● Design decision-making frameworks for play selection, formations, and tactics</p> <p>● Develop positional awareness and spatial reasoning for AI-controlled players</p> <p>● Optimize AI performance for multi-threaded, performance-critical environments</p> <p>● Partner with designers, animators, and gameplay engineers to deliver features</p> <p>● Mentor engineers and contribute to team-wide technical growth</p> <p>● Write clean, performant, and well-tested C++ code</p> <p>● Conduct code reviews to uphold quality and consistency</p> <h2><strong>What Will Make You A Great Fit</strong></h2> <p>● 8+ years of software engineering experience in game development</p> <p>● Expertise in C++ and Unreal Engine 5</p> <p>● Strong algorithm and data structure design skills</p> <p>● Experience with multi-threaded programming in performance-critical environments</p> <p>● Deep understanding of team-based sports and competitive game dynamics</p> <p>● Excellent communication and collaboration skills across disciplines</p> <p>● Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience</p> <p>● Passion for playing or watching sports</p> <h2><strong>Beneficial Qualifications</strong></h2> <p>● Track record of shipping AAA sports or simulation titles</p> <p>● Familiarity with modern console hardware and optimization techniques</p> <p>As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided suitable accommodations to enjoy equal employment opportunities, including the ability to participate in the job application or interview process. Please contact us if you need an accommodation as part of your application process or otherwise have q