Senior Game AI Programmer in UNITED KINGDOM

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Game AI Programmer to join our Total War Campaign AI Team based at our studio in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex.

This an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively with a diverse group of programmers, designers, and QA technicians. You will create efficient and effective game AI solutions to tackle the complex strategic and tactical challenges presented by Total War’s blend of real-time and turn-based gameplay, helping us to deliver a challenging, immersive, and fun experience for our players! This position will focus on AI development for the turn-based Total War Campaign.

Please be aware that although the AI Team, and CA more widely, have a keen interest in machine learning and related techniques, this developer position is focused on more traditional search and optimisation processes. Candidates with a primarily machine learning (or similar) background would need to be comfortable using or adapting to these approaches, and we would recommend the inclusion of a cover letter with your application to acknowledge this.

This role is Hybrid and has an expectation of at least three days per week in-office in our Horsham studio, however we support flexible working and we are open to discussion of working patterns as part of the recruitment process.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Game AI Programmer, you will be working with colleagues within and beyond the Campaign AI Team to help design and develop behavioural systems for the Campaign AI of Total War.

On a day-to-day basis, you will:

• Support existing AI systems through incremental improvement, feature updates and debugging along with creating new AI systems in response to ongoing or upcoming project requirements
• Be expected to familiarize yourself with the existing codebase as well as contribute to the planning and execution of future AI systems' evolution
• Aid in mentoring more junior members of the team in their technical and professional development and set a good example of these and good team working practices.

Knowledge, Skill and Experience

Essential

• Excellent C++ programming skills and knowledge of more recent language features
• Previous game development experience that includes systems design
• Interest in AI and games
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, diverse and multi-disciplinary environment
• An ability to focus on working independently when needed
• Creative problem solving.

Desirable

• Experience developing AI or related systems in games, research, or other settings
• Knowledge or use of the MCTS algorithm
• Broad gaming experience and a sense for good game design

About us

We craft deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.

We are all game makers and we care deeply about the experiences we create. We empower our teams to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.

We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:

• Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)
• Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays
• Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents
• Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
• Generous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all Bank holidays
• Join our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led group
• Season ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on site
• Wellbeing support and virtual confidential counselling
• Community activities including parties, football and more.

Our studio sites have disabled access.

We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.