[Immediate Start] Game Development Lead

Job Description

About Shortgun Games

We are a new-age gaming studio, passionately crafting unforgettable experiences for mobile, PC, and console platforms since 2021. Currently, we're developing a high-octane, third-person shooter (TPS) that aims to push the boundaries of action gaming. Our mission To merge cutting-edge gameplay with AI-driven creativity, and in the process, shape the future of game development.

If you love building, experimenting, and leading teams to break new ground in gaming technology we'd love to have you join the squad.

The Role

We're seeking a Game Development Lead who thrives at the intersection of hardcore Unreal Engine engineering and breakthrough AI innovation. You'll lead the charge in designing AI-powered workflows that transform how we build games from content creation and animation to gameplay systems and production tools.

This is not just a management role. You'll be hands-on in C++ and Unreal, shipping real features, while also mentoring engineers and defining our AI integration strategy. You'll get to experiment, fail fast, and scale what works with the freedom to shape both the technical vision and the creative impact of AI in game development.

What You'll Do

- Build & Integrate AI Tools Design and implement AI-driven systems across art, design, and engineering workflows.
- Lead by Example Write robust, high-performance C++ in Unreal Engine while guiding your team to deliver scalable solutions. This is a hands-on development role.
- Mentor & Manage Grow and inspire a cross-disciplinary team of AI and gameplay engineers.
- Optimize Workflows Collaborate with design, art, and production teams to eliminate bottlenecks using AI solutions.
- Experiment with the Future Research and prototype with generative AI, procedural systems, NLP, and animation AI turning emerging tech into production-ready tools.
- Deliver Excellence Apply your shipped-game experience to ensure systems are stable, polished, and ready for prime time.

What You Bring

- 7+ years in professional game development.
- At least 1 shipped PC/Console game (AAA or indie).
- Mastery of C++ with deep Unreal Engine expertise.
- Familiarity with Unreal's AI frameworks, gameplay systems, and editor tooling.
- Knowledge of AI/ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, ONNX) and GPU/cloud-driven workflows.
- Proven team leadership & mentoring experience.
- Passion for games, AI, and building tools that empower creative teams.

Bonus Points If You Have

- Experience in procedural content generation in Unreal.
- Background in AI-driven animation systems.
- Exposure to both AAA and indie development cultures.
- Built custom Unreal Editor plugins or tools.

What You'll Get Out of It

Role

This is not a maintenance role. It's a pioneering seat at the frontier of AI and game development. Here's why this opportunity stands out:

- Be a Trailblazer Drive how AI is used in real shipped games not just experiments.
- Creative Freedom Work in a culture where experimenting with new AI tech isn't just encouraged, it's expected.
- Impact Beyond Code Your work will influence game design, art pipelines, and the very pace of production.
- Career Growth Build impressive leadership credentials in one of the fastest-emerging intersections of gaming and AI.
- Collaborative Culture Join a squad of ambitious creators where your ideas are heard, tested, and scaled.
- Work-Life Flexibility Choose remote, hybrid, or on-site setups to match your lifestyle.

Why Shortgun Games

At Shortgun, we're not just making games we're redefining how games are made. You'll be at the ground floor of a studio where innovation isn't boxed in by legacy systems or corporate red tape. Every line of code, every experiment, and every AI workflow you pioneer will directly shape the future of our games and potentially the gaming industry itself.

If you've ever wanted to lead a team, ship ambitious titles, and pioneer AI in game development, this is the role you've been waiting for.

Skills: pc games,console games,game development,video games,unreal engine,engineering management,c++,ai development