Lead Vehicle Gameplay Programmer

Avalanche Studios is the division dedicated to ambitious, externally published, AAA open world games like Just Cause, Mad Max, and Rage 2 - our upcoming title Contraband is a co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.

Contraband is a brand new IP published by Xbox Game Studios, and we are looking for a lead programmer with physics and driving gameplay experience to take a key role in our Vehicle team at the Stockholm or New York office.

The Position

Avalanche Studios Group is now seeking a talented, decisive lead programmer to guide a growing, high performing team creating fun and engaging driving experiences on Contraband.

Work in close collaboration with design, animation and production to deliver high quality, physics-driven vehicular gameplay. Ensure that all vehicles in a complex living world have the desired handling characteristics, pathfinding, and behavior. Support the creation of robust multiplayer systems and replication. Vet proposed designs for technical feasibility and development cost. Advocate for the opportunities, risks, and needs of the programmer discipline within the larger team. The role will require highly developed leadership and mentoring ability to compliment the prerequisite technical skills required of a senior. You will also join the Avalanche engineers in developing and maintaining our proprietary Apex Engine.

It is expected that you see your responsibility as delivering a successful end-user experience, together with your team-mates, rather than just handing off technological solutions to content creators. Understanding that game development is a long, iterative process, you will be the constant champion of your junior colleagues, advocating for their needs and helping them grow their skills. Previous experience in a technical leadership role and proven ability to work with multiple systems and stakeholders is a definite advantage. Finally, as the sanity checker on all technical matters, you will have to be able to balance feature richness with technical requirements in the areas of performance, stability, memory usage, and interoperability.

Required Qualifications

- An advanced understanding of what makes games fun
- Experience working as a Senior or Principal Programmer in the games industry, and desire to lead and mentor teams of programmers
- Experience with multiple gameplay systems and how they connect to create a finished feature (animation, character control, camera, physics, AI, audio, VFX, etc)
- Expertise in physics and vehicle gameplay mechanics
- Able to write readable, robust and performant code in C++, and review the work of others
- Prior experience working as a physics/vehicle programmer on at least one shipped AAA title from start to finish




Beneficial Qualifications

- Experience with open world game
- Experience with multiplayer replication
- Experience working with proprietary engines
- Knowledge of the Havok physics engine
- Good ability at profiling and optimization


Employee promise

We provide goals, instead of instructions, and the opportunity to do the best work of your career.

Our Values

At Avalanche Studios Group, we believe in worlds beyond limits, we are committed to developing a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Everyone at Avalanche Studios Group has a shared responsibility to create an open and inclusive work environment where everyone is treated equally and with respect. Being part of our world is not contingent on where you’re from, your gender, or sexual orientation. It’s all about your passion and creativity.

How to Apply

We will only consider applications that consist of both a cover letter and a CV. In your cover letter you should include why you want to work at Avalanche Studios Group. For this role you need to be able to work full-time in our Stockholm office.

To apply for this position please register below. Apply as soon as possible as we review applications continuously. All further information is provided under non-disclosure agreement only.