Lead Engineer

Pipeworks Studios

. Support a AAA development partner on an Unreal Engine project.

Posted 9/21/2026full-timeRemote • Oregon • United StatesSenior💰 $122,000 - $146,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in Unreal Engine and C++ programming within large production codebases, alongside strong engineering leadership in complex game projects. Capable of effective communication and coordination across distributed teams, ensuring alignment and successful delivery of project goals.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Unreal Engine ExperienceC++ ProficiencyEngineering LeadershipGame Engineering KnowledgeClient-Facing Technical Discussions

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Gameplay ProgrammingCharacter Animation ProgrammingCode Review SkillsDebugging SkillsTechnical Judgment

Soft Skills

Clear CommunicationEffective OrganizationTeam CoordinationExpectation Management

Industry Keywords

AAA DevelopmentGame ProjectsProduction ReleaseCross-Studio CoordinationInternational Teams

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Unreal EngineC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support a AAA development partner on an Unreal Engine project.
Build strong working relationships with partner engineers and engineering leadership.
Translate partner priorities into scoped tasks and coordinate estimates and assignments across external studios.
Align partner and external studio teams through communication, documentation, and handoffs across time zones.
Review technical designs, code, and in-game results for correctness, maintainability, performance, and alignment with expectations.
Lead cross-studio technical discussions, clarify requirements, resolve questions, and guide decisions.
Track progress, blockers, and delivery risks; address issues with the partner and production team.
Coordinate engineering, design, animation, art, production, and QA integration and testing.
Share leadership responsibilities with the Pipeworks project engineering lead.
Investigate difficult technical issues and provide hands-on support to unblock teams while prioritizing partner collaboration and technical oversight.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Clear, direct, professional, and concise communication, including the ability to lead client-facing technical discussions, manage expectations, and explain risks and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical collaborators.
Demonstrated engineering leadership on complex game projects, including effective delegation, coordination, and accountability for team delivery.
Ability to work within a development partner’s established priorities, technical direction, codebase, and processes.
Significant hands-on Unreal Engine experience and strong C++ proficiency in large production codebases.
Strong technical judgment, debugging, and code-review skills, with broad game engineering knowledge and deep expertise in at least one area.
Ability to quickly understand an unfamiliar project, identify ambiguity and dependencies, and turn incomplete information into clear questions and actionable next steps.
Effective organization and follow-through with distributed teams.
At least one shipped commercial game or another substantial production release is preferred.
A degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field is helpful but not required when equivalent professional experience is demonstrated.
Substantial professional game engineering experience, including technical leadership and coordination of complex engineering efforts.
Experience in AAA co-development or another client-facing engineering leadership role.
Experience coordinating multiple external studios or international engineering teams across time zones.
Gameplay and character animation programming experience.
Experience supporting late-production integration, bug fixing, and release stabilization.
Experience working directly with designers and animators to refine gameplay and character animation systems.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, Dental, and Vision
401K with employer match
Employer Paid Life Insurance Policy
Generous Paid Time Off
18-20 Paid Company Holidays
Relocation
Paid Parental Leave
Employee Assistance Program
Fitness Club Discounts
Sports Team Sponsorship
Annual Company Events
Project Wrap Parties
Flexible choice of work location: remote, in office, or hybrid