Advanced Gameplay Programmer

About the Company

Warner Bros. Discovery, a premier global media and entertainment company, offers audiences the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of content, brands and franchises across television, film, streaming and gaming. The new company combines WarnerMedia's premium entertainment, sports and news assets with Discovery's leading non-fiction and international entertainment and sports businesses.

About WB Games Montréal

WB Games Montréal is a division of Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment (WBIE). Founded in 2010, we are 300+ creative team members strong who join forces every day to create unforgettable AAA experiences across all platforms.

Job Description

WB Games Montreal, a division of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE), is looking for an Advanced Gameplay Programmer.

Your New Role…

In this role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, maintaining and optimizing the software architecture of gameplay systems and game AI in support of the player experience. You will act as a technical key contributor within the gameplay team. Passion for video games is essential to this role.

At the Advanced level: you are a go-to owner for gameplay and AI segments; you influence architecture choices and scope/technical tradeoffs with Design and Production; you actively mentor and unblock the team on complex gameplay and AI topics.

Your Role Accountabilities...

• Design, develop, maintain and debug the architecture and player-experience systems (interactive mechanics, gameplay features, conditions, gameplay tags, volumes, progression, encounters) that are performant and maintainable, suited to console/PC constraints.
• Design, develop, maintain and debug game AI systems (NPC behaviors, navigation, decision-making, encounter integration) that are performant and maintainable, in alignment with gameplay systems and the player experience.
• Analyze and optimize gameplay and AI system performance (profiling, CPU/memory budgets, time-slicing or behavioral LOD where relevant).
• Collaborate with Level Design, Game Design, Art, VFX, Programming and QA: requirements, feasibility, scope, design completeness and technical risks for gameplay and AI features.
• Iterate with Design on gameplay and AI features through data-driven tuning, in-game debug tooling and validation; propose durable technical approaches for live production maintenance.
• Identify dependencies across teams, systems and features; align Production and disciplines; adjust level of polish based on phase and quality targets; leverage QA and playtest feedback.
• Participate in code reviews, champion code excellence and gameplay/AI milestone technical validation where relevant; mentor on gameplay and AI practices and produce technical documentation (TDDs, architecture notes, content integration guides).
• Maintain technology watch on the engine and gameplay and AI practices; promote good practices and contribute to continuous improvement of high-performance, cutting-edge software.

Qualifications & Experience…

• At least 8 years of C++ programming experience in the video game industry.
• Contributed to at least two AAA titles, including one shipped console/PC release; open-world, action-adventure, narrative or other significant relevant experience strongly valued.
• Strong mastery of C++ fundamentals: object-oriented design, data structures, algorithms, templates and multithreaded programming.
• Strong experience in gameplay and AI software architecture for the player experience: interactive systems, gameplay features, behaviors, pathfinding and navigation, decision systems, encounters, maintainability at scale.
• Experience in large-scale programming for consoles and PC across the full cycle (prototyping, production, delivery), including post-launch (DLC, title updates).
• Optimization and debugging skills on PC and consoles; ability to analyze performance and recommend improvements.
• Strong 3D mathematics skills (linear algebra, trigonometry, vectors/matrices, quaternions) and understanding of animation technical constraints.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine 5 for gameplay and AI integration: gameplay framework, State Trees, EQS, navigation and gameplay feature integration.
• Knowledge of development tools (Perforce, JIRA and bug tracking tools).
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and transparently, in writing and verbally, with design and programming teams.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills; results-oriented. Self-motivated team player with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Ability to prioritize work with Production, calibrate deliverable quality to phase and milestone context, and self-manage execution against agreed goals and plans.
• Ability to drive ambiguous technical topics forward in collaboration with Design and Production; initiative, teamwork and professional rigor.
• Ability to guide less experienced team members and collaborate with internal and external resources.