Principal Game Programmer; f​/m​/x

As our
Principal Game Programmer (f/m/x), you will be the most senior individual contributor on the programming team. Your mission includes setting the technical bar across Unreal Engine, our development tools, and gameplay. Additionally, you will own the hardest technical problems and drive architecture in close collaboration with the Technical Director. Mentoring senior, regular, and junior programmers is a core, formal part of the role.

Your Mission Includes :

• Drive technical and architectural decisions across major systems
• Take ownership of the most technically demanding work: deep optimization, cross-system refactors, and high-risk areas of the codebase
• Set and uphold technical standards and best practices
• Mentor programmers of all levels through pairing, code reviews, and technical guidance, fostering growth and unblocking complex problems
• Own documentation and knowledge sharing for the systems and domains you know best
• Identify, evaluate, and prototype new tools and workflows to improve the team's output
• Contribute to hiring through technical interviews and onboarding

• 10+ years of experience in the game development industry
• Expert-level proficiency in C++, with a deep understanding of programming principles, system design, and large-scale architectures
• Extensiveexperienceingameprogrammingacrossengine-levelworkandtoolsdevelopment
• Deepknowledgeof Unreal Engineinternalsandmajorsubsystems
• AproventrackrecordofshippingAA/AAAtitleswithsignificantownershipovercoresystems
• Strong debugging,profiling,andoptimizationskillsacrossCPUandGPU,including platform-specific work
• Demonstrated mentorship experience: growing other programmers through pair programming, code reviews, and technical coaching
• Excellent communication and documentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to both engineers and non-engineers
• Soundjudgmentonwhentobuild,whentorefactor,andwhentoshipas-is
• 2+ years of console programming experience (Play Station, Xbox)
• This position is available for candidates based in time zones within +/- 2 hours of Germany (CET/CEST). We are also open to applicants located anywhere who are willing and able to relocate to Germany

• Deepspecializationinaparticulardomain(gameplay,tools,rendering,animation,orAI)
• Priorexperienceona Principal/StaffICtrackatanotherstudio
• Consolecertificationwork(Play Station,Xbox)
• Having shipped at least one AA/AAA game

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:

• Amodern,centrallylocatedofficein
  
  Frankfurt,Germany(near Messe)
• Freelanguagecoursestohelpyouexpandyourskills
• Monthlyallowancesforremoteworkingandgymmemberships
• Amonthlyallowanceforthe Deutschlandtickettoeaseyourcommute
• Tax-free Proboniovouchersavailableeverymonth
• Freeaccesstoanonlinementalhealthplatform(Bloom) tosupportyourwell-being
• Opportunitiesforcareergrowthwithayearlylearning&development budget
• 28 days of paid vacation, plus the 24th and 31st of December off

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.