Lead Full Stack Dev (US Only - Fortnite Exp Required)

Job Description

Job Description

Please only apply if you have prior experience managing a team and hands-on expertise in scene graph and Unreal Engine map-making. These skills are essential for success in this role. Who is Oni Studios

Oni Studios is a powerful resource that helps brands and content creators build strong content and brands. Based in Austin, Texas, we’re in the heart of technology, gaming innovation, and digital culture. Our leadership has been in the gaming space for over five years, spearheading tactics and efforts that deliver real results in transforming content creation into a full-fledged enterprise. Our vision is to pioneer the next generation of content in the gaming industry - and we hope you will join us!

Picture Yourself on the Team

As a Lead Full Stack Developer at Oni Studios, you will guide the development of world-class online features and tools for Fortnite's immersive universe. From iconic game modes like Battle Royale and Rocket Racing to high-profile collaborations, your role will shape unforgettable experiences for a global audience. You’ll spearhead the creation of features, mechanics, UI, and all integration with Verse in Unreal Engine’s Fortnite editor, empowering your team to build innovative, cross-platform, resilient, engaging, and future-ready content. In addition to leading a team of skilled developers, you’ll collaborate across projects and platforms, impacting every corner of the Fortnite community.

This role combines creative ownership and hands-on programming.. As a cornerstone of our team, you’ll take projects from concept to completion while mentoring a passionate team of UGC developers. If you’re excited about building transformative gaming experiences, we want to hear from you!

Responsibilities : Leadership & Project Oversight :

Set clear expectations, goals, and standards to deliver successful projects in scope and on time, and monitor team progress, providing regular updates to management.

Manage workloads, timelines, and all project management aspects of technical game development, using Asana to track progress, organize workflows, and address roadblocks.

Maintain clear, organized communication to prevent confusion and miscommunication across teams and stakeholders, simplifying complex concepts for diverse team members and stakeholders.

Spearhead R&D efforts and set priorities for new features released on the UEFN platform, consulting with stakeholders on their best deployment and integration into existing or upcoming projects.

Creative Feasibility & Prototyping :

Engage at the start of the creative process to evaluate the feasibility of creative briefs and visions, consulting with creative directors on potential limitations or adjustments.

Develop efficient prototypes in UEFN early in the process to validate feasibility and align with creative goals.

Translate feasibility outcomes into detailed technical tasks, assigning and managing these tasks to push the project toward completion.

Mentorship & Team Development :

Motivate and inspire the team by acting as a role model, demonstrating professionalism, accountability, and effective work habits.

Provide department managers with notes and reports to facilitate performance evaluations and identify training needs.

Development & Technical Implementation :

Front-End Development : Design and implement user interfaces for games and interactive experiences within UEFN using Unreal Engine's Blueprints or Verse coding.

Back-End Development : Develop, integrate, and refine back-end game mechanics, devices, and features, both internal and external, to ensure smooth gameplay experiences.

Game Design Integration : Collaborate with designers to integrate game assets, mechanics, and features into UEFN projects, ensuring alignment with creative and functional specifications. Assign team members to provide technical implementation support to contractors as needed.

System Optimization : Debug and optimize game performance across supported platforms, finding creative solutions to UEFN limitations through custom coding and workarounds. Conduct code reviews to assess teamwork and maintain a high standard of code efficiency.

Implement best practices to minimize lag, optimize rendering, and ensure smooth gameplay.

Data Management & Insights :

Regularly assess game performance and technical health, prioritizing and driving any changes needed for a better user experience across all eligible platforms

Leverage analytics devices and tools provided by Epic (e.g., player statistics, inventories, and progression systems) to gather insights and recommend technical improvements.

Analyze error reports, community feedback, and Epic Portal insights to suggest performance optimizations and feature enhancements.

Collaboration & Coordination :

Work closely with developers, contractors, freelancers, project managers, producers, and creative leaders to ensure seamless integration of assets and features.

Assist in leading playtests, code reviews, and sprint planning as the lead technical stakeholder to meet development milestones and maintain project alignment.

Support & Maintenance :

Lead QA Prioritization within the development team, delegate accordingly, and raise any larger concerns to management.

Regularly play studio games (live and in development) to gather insights and identify potential improvements missed during testing.

Respond to live project reports, resolving bugs or glitches, and ensuring ongoing performance optimization.

Oversee updates and quality control for both new features and legacy content, incorporating bug fixes and player feedback.

Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications :

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Development, or a related field preferred.

Experience Requirements : 4+ years in game or user-generated content development; 2+ years leading technical or game development teams.

In-depth knowledge of Unreal Engine, UEFN, and the Verse programming language.

Proficiency in UI / UX design tools like Adobe XD, Sketch, and Figma, with a solid understanding of responsive design across various screen sizes and resolutions, is preferred.

Proficiency in programming languages and frameworks such as Verse, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Angular, Vue.js, C++, and Python.

Experience with Agile development methodologies and best practices.

Strong familiarity with UEFN, Fortnite Creative, emerging UGC trends, and community engagement strategies.

Proven leadership experience guiding technical roadmaps, making strategic trade-offs, and mentoring team members.

Exceptional collaborative and interpersonal skills with a talent for fostering productive, cross-functional relationships.

Benefits :

Eligibility to participate in the company incentive bonus program is subject to the terms and conditions specified in the incentive bonus plan document.

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance is effective the first of the month following your start date

Fully paid life insurance at $50,000

401(k) with matching at 6 months

PTO

Paid Sick and Bereavement Leave

11 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

At Oni Studios, we believe that creativity thrives in an environment where diverse perspectives and experiences are celebrated. We are committed to fostering a culture that embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) as core principles of our business.

The interview process :

Oni Studios aims to make our interview process as smooth and informative as possible. Here’s what you can expect :

Initial Phone Screen : A 20-minute conversation to discuss your background and the role.

Behavioral / Culture fit interview : The interview assesses how well a candidate's personality, values, and behaviors align with the company's culture.

Technical / Skills Interview : An assessment of your technical skills as they relate to the position.

Team Interview : Interview with other (potentially cross-collaborative) colleagues to gauge fit and capability.

Final Decision and Offer.

Equal Opportunity Statement :

Oni Studios provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Location exclusion :

Please note that Oni Studios is not hiring in certain states, including but not limited to : California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington.

Pay transparency statement :

In the spirit of pay transparency, we are excited to share that the base salary range for this position is $92,500-$110,000, exclusive of benefits or potential bonuses. This position is also eligible for an annual Discretionary Profit-Sharing Bonus. If hired at Oni Studios, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on geographic location, skills, education, and / or experience. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider the internal equity of our team members as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the above range is the complete base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future & continued salary growth. We also offer a generous compensation and benefits package.