Unreal Engine Gameplay Programmer / Technical Designer

Project: GrimRail
Company: Infinite Loop Studios LTD
Location: Remote / Canada preferred
Position Type: Independent Contractor
Commitment: Part-time, with potential to expand after funding
Compensation: Revenue share during demo period, with potential for paid monthly contract after publisher funding

About GrimRail

GrimRail is a first-person cosmic psychological horror game set aboard a decaying luxury train suspended in a surreal afterlife. The game blends narrative mystery, environmental storytelling, analogue horror, dreamcore imagery, puzzle exploration, and reactive gameplay systems.

Players explore a purgatorial train and the corrupted worlds connected to it, using a reality-bending radio to uncover hidden spaces, solve environmental puzzles, and survive disturbing encounters.

Infinite Loop Studios LTD is an independent game development studio based in Canada. We are currently developing GrimRail’s vertical slice and are in conversations with several publishers. Nothing is guaranteed, but the project has active external interest and a clear short-term demo goal.

We are looking for an Unreal Engine Gameplay Programmer / Technical Designer to help prototype, improve, and polish gameplay systems for the next major demo milestone.

Role Overview

This role is ideal for a generalist Unreal developer who enjoys gameplay systems, rapid prototyping, clean Blueprints, designer-friendly tools, and atmospheric horror mechanics.

You will work closely with the creative director, art director, and development team to build and refine GrimRail’s core systems. This may include player abilities, environmental manipulation mechanics, interaction systems, UI widgets, AI behavior, debugging, optimization, and technical support for horror-focused gameplay moments.

Because GrimRail is an indie project, we are looking for someone who is comfortable wearing more than one hat. The strongest candidate will be able to prototype quickly, communicate clearly, document their work, and help turn strange creative ideas into playable systems.

Immediate Focus

Depending on current production priorities, your work may include:

• Developing and refining player ability systems.
• Prototyping environmental manipulation mechanics.
• Improving interaction logic and gameplay clarity.
• Supporting diegetic gameplay systems, such as inventory or objects handled through the player character.
• Debugging and improving existing Blueprint systems.
• Building designer-friendly tools using Blueprints, components, child Blueprint systems, or clear SOP-style workflows.
• Helping implement VFX-related gameplay polish, including screen overlays and Niagara systems.
• Supporting UI and widget Blueprint implementation.
• Troubleshooting Unreal Engine build errors, bugs, and performance issues.
• Improving existing systems for scalability after prototype approval.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and implement gameplay systems in Unreal Engine 5 using Blueprints and, where needed, C++.
• Build and refine mechanics from ideation through implementation.
• Collaborate with directors, artists, designers, and audio team members to create cohesive gameplay moments.
• Develop clean, readable, and well-commented Blueprint and code structures.
• Convert Blueprint logic to C++ where appropriate for performance, scalability, or maintainability.
• Create systems that are designer-friendly and easy for non-programmers to use.
• Debug gameplay, UI, AI, VFX, animation, and build-related issues in Unreal Engine.
• Support rapid prototyping while planning for long-term scalable systems once a mechanic is approved.
• Help polish mechanics through playtesting and feedback cycles.
• Contribute ideas that improve tension, pacing, immersion, and player clarity.
• Use version control reliably, including Git and ideally Git Bash for troubleshooting.
• Attend 1–2 team meetings per week and communicate progress clearly.

Required Skills

• Strong familiarity with Unreal Engine 5.
• Strong Blueprint experience.
• Ability to prototype gameplay mechanics quickly.
• Experience building gameplay systems, interaction systems, or puzzle mechanics.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills in Unreal Engine.
• Understanding of clean code planning, commenting, and scalable system design.
• Familiarity with Git or another version control workflow.
• Ability to work independently in a task-based production system.
• Willingness to take critique and revise work based on feedback.
• Interest in creative ideation, brainstorming, and collaborative game development.
• Reliable communication and accountability with deadlines.

Strong Advantages

• Previous experience on a released game.
• Gameplay Ability System familiarity.
• C++ experience, especially converting Blueprint logic into C++.
• Animation Blueprint experience.
• AI system familiarity, including behavior states, behavior trees, or similar systems.
• Experience with environmental manipulation mechanics.
• Experience building full mechanics from concept to implementation.
• Familiarity with diegetic gameplay systems, such as in-world inventory or player-hand interactions.
• Experience with widget Blueprints and UI implementation.
• Strong UI portfolio or examples of polished interface work.
• VFX familiarity, especially screen overlays, post-process effects, and Niagara systems.
• FMOD experience.
• Experience with Unreal Engine build errors and packaging issues.
• Familiarity with light technical art workflows.
• Experience developing designer-friendly tools, components, child Blueprint systems, or reusable gameplay frameworks.
• Strong examples of Unreal Engine bug fixes or technical problem-solving.
• Comfort with rapid prototyping in an indie production environment.

Horror and Design Fit

GrimRail is a horror project, so creative fit matters. We are especially interested in candidates who:

• Love horror games, especially psychological, analogue, dreamcore, surreal, or offbeat horror.
• Understand how mechanics can support atmosphere, fear, and tension.
• Think about player experience, readability, pacing, and immersion.
• Enjoy weird creative problems, not just standard gameplay implementation.
• Have interest in game design principles, whether through self-education, professional experience, or a game design program.
• Are comfortable working with disturbing subject matter, horror imagery, and intense narrative themes.

Work Structure

We are a remote-first indie team. Team members work through an independent, task-based system and are expected to manage their own time responsibly.

You should be able to:

• Commit consistent weekly availability.
• Complete assigned tasks on deadline.
• Communicate blockers early.
• Attend 1–2 meetings per week.
• Document important technical decisions for director and team review.
• Work collaboratively through playtest-driven iteration.

Project Stage and Compensation

GrimRail is currently in vertical slice development. We are aiming to complete the next major demo milestone within approximately 2–3 months.

For the initial demo period, this role would be compensated through revenue share. The exact percentage will depend on role scope, availability, and contribution level.

After the demo stage, if publisher funding is secured, the role may transition into a paid monthly independent contractor position at competitive indie rates. Continued work would likely involve at least 5 months of production per episode or major content phase.

Please note that publisher funding is not guaranteed. We want to be transparent about the current stage of the project and the risk involved.

All contributors who remain through the shipped demo milestone will be credited appropriately. An NDA may be required upon acceptance of the role.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Can prototype fast without creating impossible-to-maintain systems.
• Understands the difference between a test mechanic and a production-ready framework.
• Writes clean, organized, readable Blueprints and code.
• Can collaborate with designers and artists without turning every request into a technical fog machine.
• Enjoys horror, atmosphere, and narrative-driven games.
• Can solve practical Unreal Engine problems without needing constant direction.
• Communicates clearly and takes accountability for their work.
• Wants to help shape a distinctive indie horror game with strong creative direction.

Portfolio Requirements

Please include examples of relevant work. Strong applications may include:

• Gameplay systems made in Unreal Engine.
• Blueprint or C++ examples.
• Playable prototypes.
• Puzzle mechanics.
• Ability systems.
• AI behavior examples.
• UI or widget Blueprint examples.
• VFX or Niagara implementation.
• Animation Blueprint work.
• Environmental interaction systems.
• Released game work.
• Bug fixing, optimization, or technical breakdowns.

How to Apply

Please send:

• Your portfolio, GitHub, playable builds, or technical samples.
• A short introduction.
• Your Unreal Engine experience.
• Your Blueprint and C++ experience level.
• Your availability over the next 2–3 months.
• Any shipped or released projects you have worked on.
• Any horror games or design references that inspire your work.
• Whether you are comfortable with the initial revenue-share structure.

Learn more:

Website: https://www.infiniteloopstudios.ca/
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3975300/GrimRail/

We are especially interested in developers who can help turn GrimRail’s strangest ideas into polished, playable, atmospheric systems.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: Up to $80,000.00 per year

Experience:

• DevOps: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: Remote