Senior C++ Systems Engineer (Unreal Engine)

Job Description Job Description About Us Fermata (under Kost, Inc.) is an award-winning XR and game studio recognized by SXSW, Venice, PGA, and Tribeca. We are introducing a new era of storytelling driven by intelligent characters that can remember you, talk to you, learn from you, and even lie to you. Through these experiences, our audiences are transformed from passive observers to active participants who live the story in real-time. We ship original IP directly to customers through platforms like Steam and tool bespoke story engines and AI agents for an array of clients, including AAA game studios. Fermata has two projects in development that are pushing the boundaries of narrative gameplay, AI systems, and Unreal Engine's storytelling capabilities, and we need someone to help lead the team. We're looking for a senior-level Unreal C++ engineer who can take a hands-on technical leadership role, help architect the foundation for large-scale AI-driven systems, and guide a team of emerging developers toward best practices. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in both deep systems work and creative problem-solving, and who's interested in the work of a technical producer in a growing studio. Responsibilities Architect and implement core multiplayer replication systems for dynamic, AI-driven gameplay. Build and optimize Unreal subsystems for story progression, memory / state tracking, and goal management. Design and maintain cross-platform save / load architectures (PC, VR, mobile). Profile and optimize CPU / GPU performance and network systems. Collaborate closely with designers, writers, and AI engineers to integrate LLM-driven character reasoning and emergent narrative logic. Serve as a technical producer and mentor, reviewing code, setting engineering standards, and helping structure efficient pipelines for a small but fast-growing team. Participate in high-level technical and strategic discussions that shape Fermata's roadmap and technology stack. Requirements 5 years of professional Unreal Engine C++ experience. Deep understanding of multiplayer replication, networking, and subsystem architecture. Proven experience building scalable save / load or persistence systems. Strong debugging, profiling, and optimization skills. Comfortable in Blueprint-heavy environments (C++ Blueprint integration). Demonstrated experience shipping or leading on multiplayer Unreal projects. Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to bridge creative and technical conversations. Nice to Have Familiarity with AI / LLM integrations, narrative or systemic gameplay, or experimental mechanics. Experience with PlayFab, EOS, or similar backend services. Prior experience mentoring engineers or managing technical pipelines. A passion for narrative innovation and exploring the intersection of storytelling and technology. Why Join Us You'll be part of a small, creative team that's pushing Unreal Engine into uncharted territory by blending AI-driven narrative design, real-time performance systems, and cross-platform scalability. This role offers the rare opportunity to both build and lead, shaping our projects and the studio's technical DNA. This is a 6-month, full-time, contracted position based in Los Angeles, CA. While this is a majority work-from-home role, we'd prefer candidates work in person at least two times a week.