Gameplay Programmer; Characters, AI & Animation

About Dambuster Studios

Originally founded in 1999 as Free Radical Design our ambition and passion comes through as strongly now as when we first began. We are always seeking individuals who can emulate our values - passion, quality, and teamwork - which are embodied in our diverse and inclusive culture.

Even if you’re not sure that you meet all the criteria for a role, don’t be put off from applying - we want to hear from you. Our only requirement is that you work from the UK, and if you’re not here right now we can discuss relocation if the role requires you on-site frequently (if the role requires this, it’s outlined in the advert below).

Our internal Wellbeing Committee and Mental Health First Aiders help ensure that our diversity is championed in a safe environment in our city centre studio.

Dambuster Studios - creators of the number one BAFTA-nominated smash hit Dead Island 2 - has an exciting opportunity for a Gameplay Programmer to join our highly talented Characters, AI & Animation codeteam.

We are seeking a talented individual to join our small, dynamic team dedicated to creating outstanding enemy and NPC experiences in Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). As part of our cross-departmental "Enemies" group, you will play a key role in designing and maintaining systems that underpin gameplay AI, animation, character physics, and spawning. This is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams, translate creative vision into technical solutions, and contribute to some of the most engaging gameplay experiences in the industry.

• Core hours 9.30am – 4pm, remaining hours worked flexibly
• Relocation support to Nottingham, UK (if required)
• Holiday allowance that increases with service (to a maximum of 30 days plus statutory public holidays)
• Annual pay reviews
• Company pension contribution that increases with service
• Company enhanced full pay for maternity leave for the first 26 weeks (to qualifying expectant mothers)
• Clear career progression within Dambuster Studios
• Studio funded learning and development opportunities
• Modern game development environment with the latest technologies
• Vibrant, modern city centre location with good transport links
• Fully subsidised gym membership with Virgin gym (Nottingham)
• Annual Christmas party and Summer Family BBQ
• Quarterly company funded cross-team events
• Free financial advice
• Employee referral bonus scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Weekly office treats, including breakfast on Monday and pastries on Friday

• Design and maintain efficient systems for gameplay AI, animation, character physics, and character spawning in UE5.
• Translate gameplay requirements into technical solutions, using C++ and UE5’s blueprint systems for data-driven development.
• Write well-optimised, thoroughly documented code that meets established coding standards.
• Take full or shared ownership of features and systems, from ideation and planning through to support and bug fixing. Serve as a point of contact for your area of expertise.
• Conduct performance analysis and optimise code for multi-platform stability and efficiency.
• Build strong relationships with team members and cross-departmental colleagues to ensure seamless cooperation.
• Follow best practices for source control (Perforce preferred), ensuring build stability and multi-platform compilation success.
• Review code changes with a focus on quality, while providing and receiving constructive feedback in a collaborative and respectful manner.

• Strong knowledge of C++ with an emphasis on maintainable, reusable, and well-documented code. Familiarity with modern C++ features and patterns (e.g., RAII) is a bonus.
• Unreal Engine 5 Knowledge, including:
  • Best practices for blueprints, UObjects, and delegate usage.
  • Experience with navigation systems (e.g., recast/detour, navlinks).
  • Proficiency in state trees, state machines, EQS, and character movement/physics.
• Familiarity with software design patterns such as state machines, hashmaps, and entity-component systems.
• Experience with performance analysis and subsequent optimisation.
• A positive attitude towards collaboration and the…