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Senior Software Engineer, C++ – Gameplay Systems

at Blackbird Interactive

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About the role

  • Senior Software Engineer helping to evolve gameplay systems in a classic AAA real-time strategy title at Blackbird Interactive. Collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement features and improve workflows.

Responsibilities

  • Core RTS gameplay systems: Design, implement, maintain, and improve player-facing gameplay features such as unit behaviors, abilities, commands, selection, movement, combat interactions, targeting, and game-state systems using C++.
  • Mission and scenario gameplay: Build and support scripted gameplay content including triggers, objectives, events, encounters, victory conditions, progression logic, and campaign or custom scenario systems.
  • Simulation and systems architecture: Develop modular, data-driven gameplay systems that support iteration, determinism, save/load reliability, multiplayer stability, and maintainability across a large legacy codebase.
  • Technical leadership and collaboration: Partner closely with design, art, audio, production, QA, and engineering peers to prototype features, tune game feel, guide implementation approaches, review code, and resolve gameplay issues efficiently.
  • Performance and stability: Debug and optimize gameplay systems with attention to CPU, memory, desync risk, determinism, save/load issues, and edge-case behavior in both single-player and multiplayer contexts.
  • Legacy stewardship and improvement: Work within an established codebase to extend and refactor existing systems, modernize workflows where appropriate, reduce technical debt, and preserve the responsiveness and readability players expect from a classic RTS experience.

Requirements

  • Have 6+ years of professional software development experience using C++, ideally in games.
  • Hold a BSc in Computer Science or a college diploma in software engineering, game programming, or a closely related field, or have equivalent professional experience.
  • Have shipped at least one commercial game or major update where you contributed significantly to gameplay, simulation, AI, tools, or engine systems.
  • Are comfortable working in mature or legacy codebases and can improve existing systems without losing sight of gameplay feel, stability, and maintainability.
  • Can independently own medium-to-large gameplay features from investigation and design through implementation, debugging, polish, and support.
  • Have experience implementing or debugging gameplay systems involving state, timing, scripting, AI, player input, mission logic, or simulation.
  • Care deeply about responsiveness, clarity, polish, and long-term maintainability in player-facing systems.
  • Communicate clearly, work well with cross-functional teams, and can provide constructive technical feedback through code reviews, design discussions, and mentoring.

Job title

Backend Engineer

Job type

Full Time

Experience level

Senior

Salary

CA$125,000 - CA$155,000 per year

Degree requirement

Bachelor's Degree

Location requirements

RemoteCanada

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