Absurd Ventures is hiring a Lead Engineer, Game AI to oversee the design, development, and optimization of game artificial intelligence systems. You will guide a team of engineers in close collaboration with design, animation, and gameplay teams to deliver intelligent, immersive, and believable game experiences and characters.

What You'll Do

Oversee the development and implementation of character control AI systems, including pathfinding, state trees, decision-making systems, and large-scale NPC behavior models.
Collaborate closely with game designers and content creators to define the needs and constraints for AI systems.
Architect and maintain scalable, reusable AI code systems for a wide range of NPC behaviors and game scenarios.
Create and maintain thorough documentation for AI systems and architecture.
Guide and mentor a team of AI engineers; provide code reviews, technical feedback, and career development support.
Ensure performance and memory efficiency across multiple platforms using profiling tools and optimization techniques.
Work with QA and production to identify, debug, and resolve AI-related issues.
Stay current on AI trends in game development and other industries to bring innovative ideas to the project.

What We're Looking For

7+ years of professional experience in game development, with significant focus on AI programming.
Shipped at least one console title in a senior or lead AI engineering role.
Expertise in C++ and strong knowledge of modern software engineering practices.
Deep understanding of AI techniques including state machines, behavior trees, utility systems, navigation, and spatial reasoning.
Strong debugging, profiling, and optimization skills.
Experience leading technical teams and managing cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Nice to Have

Experience developing AI systems in Unreal Engine (UE4 or UE5), including familiarity with EQS, Blackboard, and Behavior Trees.
Experience with Open World games.
Background in machine learning, procedural content generation, or large-scale crowd simulations.
Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python or Lua.
Passion for systemic design and emergent gameplay.
Interest in creating AI that supports narrative, ambient, and sandbox-driven game worlds.

Technical Stack

C++
Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5)
Python
Lua

Team & Environment

As the Lead AI Engineer, you will guide a team of AI engineers.

Benefits & Compensation

Salary range: $170,000 to $210,000 per year + equity (certain roles eligible).
Vacation time, sick time, and company holidays.
Parental leave.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Life insurance and disability insurance.
401(k) matching.