Principal Game AI Engineer

RemoteRemoteFull TimePrincipalPosted 18 days agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

Unreal Engine 4
Unreal Engine 5
game AI
Behavior Trees
pathfinding
perception systems
root motion
distance matching
motion warping
blend spaces

Nice to have

dynamic systems
procedural systems
C#
Python
Blueprint

Role summary

Ghost Story Games is seeking a remote Principal Game AI Engineer for their highly anticipated game, Judas. This role focuses on finalizing and polishing AI behaviors and systems to ensure enemies are believable and compelling. The ideal candidate will own AI implementation, collaborate with design and animation teams, and ensure the quality and stability of critical AI systems. Requires extensive Unreal Engine 4/5 experience, deep knowledge of modern game AI architecture (Behavior Trees, pathfinding, perception), modern animation techniques, strong C++, and at least one shipped game in the action/FPS genre.

Who We Are:

Ghost Story Games is a self-publishing game development studio founded by Ken Levine (Creative Director of System Shock 2, Bioshock, and Bioshock Infinite) and former Irrational Games developers. The studio’s mission is to create narrative-driven experiences rooted in immersive world building and gameplay.

The Challenge

Ghost Story Games is seeking a talented remote Principal Game AI Engineer to join us on Judas, the highly anticipated game led by Ken Levine (System Shock 2, BioShock series). Unique in its bold, creative vision, Judas is also built upon novel technology by which the visual world, gameplay, and story unfolds in meaningful, dynamic ways. The result is a significant and personal journey adapted to each player’s experience and offers a new approach to the art and storytelling of video games.

We are seeking a Principal Game AI Engineer to focus on the finalization and polish of our AI behaviors and systems. In this critical role, you will take ownership of bringing our AI systems to a "shipping-ready" state, ensuring the enemies within Judas react and behave in believable, compelling ways. Beyond technical implementation, you are expected to work closely with our design and animation teams to tune these systems and guarantee the best possible player experience.

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of shipping games as an AI Game Engineer, pairing strong technical abilities with a deep passion for player experience.

What You’ll Take On:

You will own the implementation, hardening, and polish of AI behaviors and systems to shipping quality.

You will collaborate closely with design, animation, and other disciplines to iterate on AI features, ensuring they support the creative vision and deliver an exceptional player experience.

You will ensure the quality and stability of critical AI systems, taking responsibility for delivering highly reliable behaviors.

What You Bring:

Extensive Unreal Engine 4 and/or Unreal Engine 5 experience.

Deep experience with modern game AI architecture (Behavior Trees, pathfinding, perception systems)

Experience with modern animation techniques like root motion, distance matching, motion warping, blend spaces, and state machines

Strong knowledge of C++

At least one shipped title working primarily on game AI, preferably a AAA title in the action and/or FPS genre

Ability to quickly understand existing code and enhance/extend an existing architecture

Great to Have:

Experience with closing down heavily dynamic and/or procedural systems.

Support build automation processes as needed.

C#/Python/Blueprint experience.

The pay range for this position in Massachusetts at the start of employment is expected to be between $180,000 and $210,000 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an ~at-will position~ and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

When Applying For This Position:

Please watch the following GDC talk given by Ken Levine: http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1020434/Narrative

Please be aware that Ghost Story does not conduct job interviews or make job offers over third-party messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, or others. Ghost Story also does not engage in any financial exchanges during the recruitment or onboarding process, and the Ghost Story will never ask a candidate for their personal or financial information over an app or other unofficial chat channel. Any attempt to do so may be the result of a scam or phishing exercise. Ghost Story’s in-house recruitment team will only contact individuals through their official Ghost Story email addresses (i.e., via a ghoststorygames.com email domain). If you need to report an issue or otherwise have questions, please contact Careers@ghoststorygames.com

As an equal opportunity employer, Ghost Story Games, LLC (“Ghost Story”) is committed to fostering and celebrating the diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds of its talent, partners, and communities throughout its organization. Consistent with this commitment, Ghost Story does not discriminate or retaliate against any employee or job applicant because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, and genetic information (including family medical history), or on the basis of any other trait protected by applicable law. If you need to report a concern or have questions regarding Ghost Story’s equal opportunity commitment, please contact Careers@ghoststorygames.com.

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