Blizzard Entertainment is seeking a talented and passionate Lead AI Engineer to oversee gameplay-based artificial intelligence development for an unannounced AAA PC/Console project. An AI engineer at Blizzard embraces and fosters Blizzard’s core value of “Gameplay First” through collaboration with designers, engineers, and artists to create compelling and challenging gameplay experiences.
We are a team of passionate developers that highly value open-minded collaboration, direct feedback, and the eagerness to grab and drive game development to Blizzard quality. As a Lead AI Engineer, you will inspire and align the AI team around a technical vision that satisfies the core gameplay and performance challenges for our ambitious project. By directly managing a team of engineers and collaborating with project leadership, you will help define strategic initiatives and break down clear and achievable goals for the AI team. When particularly hard problems arise, you'll draw upon the team's collective creativity to define and execute upon a technical vision that meets the project's needs.
Responsibilities
- Directly manage, evaluate, and mentor the engineering staff of the AI team.
- Act as a primary point of contact for cross-team AI gameplay development, partnering with a central-service shared game engine team to define and execute on project requirements.
- Develop and define the project’s AI technical solutions, collaborating across a diverse cross-discipline team to ensure that the gameplay AI requirements for the project are clearly defined and met.
- Perform research to acquire new knowledge necessary to perform assigned tasks and maintain a process of technological evolution.
- Partner with the production staff and the rest of the leadership team for milestone planning and tracking development progress.
- Champion Blizzard’s core values.
Requirements
- At least 5+ years of relevant experience on multiple AAA game projects; shipped at least two AAA titles.
- Must currently hold at least a senior engineering position.
- Previous experience in leading high performing engineering teams.
- Proven experience shipping games on multiple platforms such as PC, console, and mobile.
- Experience building fully featured AI systems in a shipped title.
- Advanced knowledge of game characters, including animation and physics.
- Prior experience with client/server game systems.
- Strong proficiency in mathematics (linear algebra, trigonometry).
- Advanced knowledge of C++, both historical patterns as well as modern language features.
- Proven ability to grow, guide, inspire, and lead growing development/engineering teams.
- Excellent spoken and written communications skills.
- Extraordinary self-motivation and initiative.
- Extensive experience with video games, including action, FPS, and online titles.
Pluses
- B.S. (or higher) degree in Computer Science or equivalent.
- Experience with visual scripting languages such as those found in Unity or Unreal.
Required Application Materials
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Blizzard Entertainment is a global company committed to growing our employees along with the business. We offer generous benefits and perks with an eye on providing true work/life balance. We’ve worked hard to foster an intensely collaborative and creative environment, a diverse and inclusive employee culture, and training and opportunities for professional growth. Our people are everything. Our core values are real, and our mission has never changed. We are dedicated to creating the most epic entertainment experiences ever. Join us!
