Lead Gameplay Programmer

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-06-10

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

ENGINEERING - GAMES

What We Do

Unreal projects have been leading the pack of real-time entertainment with our constantly growing team of engineering experts. We’re always improving on the tools and technology that empower content developers worldwide.

What You'll Do

We are seeking an experienced Lead Gameplay Programmer to direct gameplay teams within Rocket League. They will be responsible for leading the gameplay programming team and collaborating and iterating with gameplay programmers, game designers, producers, and artists. They will play a critical role in feature development for Rocket League.

In this role, you will

• Manage a team of seasoned gameplay programmers and be the primary hub of communication and information for other disciplines
• Distill high-level feature requests into meaningful, actionable work items and delegate effectively to the team
• Deliver core gameplay features efficiently and on time, and speak up when the team is over- or under-scoped
• Lead the vision for different gameplay systems and features and write code and do system design as needed
• Propose and review technical design, systems, and technical approaches to ensure that they satisfy requirements and promote a healthy codebase
• Work closely with art and design leads to ensure gameplay mechanics meet functional requirements and uphold our high standards
• Work closely with other programming disciplines to integrate systems in support of the player experience

What we're looking for

• Experience developing gameplay physics systems (simulation, collision, character/vehicle physics, etc.)
• Experience with network replication systems (client-server prediction, state synchronization, lag compensation)
• Proven track record delivering live-service games or AAA MMO titles built on Unreal Engine
• Proven leadership experience managing high-performing programming teams on shipped AAA titles
• Strong C++ skills and the ability to code and design gameplay mechanics and tools
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to collaborate and communicate to work cross-functionally and give/receive constructive feedback
• Experience using AI coding assistants (e.g., Claude Code) to improve development efficiency and streamline programming workflows

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.

ABOUT US

Epic Games​ ​is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.

Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.

Explore around this job

Field: Operations and Management Sub-niche: Program management All jobs at Epic Games Jobs in North Carolina Jobs in Cary, NC Cary city guide North Carolina state guide Wake County economy

View this job and apply on the employer's page →

You apply on the employer's page; AtiveSite does not receive or process applications and is not affiliated with the employer. The description above is shown as the source published it.

About the role

This is a — role in the Operations and Management field (Program management) at Epic Games.

We could not match this job title to one occupation in the official wage statistics, so no pay estimate is shown. Pay is not in the source listing; ask the employer for the range and compare in the 240 job niches.

Does the pay work here? (estimate)

How to prepare and behave

This is editorial guidance, not information from the employer.

• Read the whole description and match your examples to its requirements; use the same words the posting uses where they are true for you.
• Research the employer before the interview: what it does, who its customers are and recent news; prepare two or three questions about the work.
• Arrive early (or log in early for a video call), dress one step above the daily dress code, and test your camera and audio beforehand.
• Answer with short stories: the situation, what you did and the result. Give numbers when you have them and never invent them.
• Be honest about gaps; say what you did to learn and how fast you can close them.
• Ask about the team, the first 90 days, how success is measured and the schedule; do not open with salary and time off.
• When pay comes up, know the market range for the occupation and your lowest acceptable offer before you answer; ask for the full package in writing.
• Send a short thank-you message within a day, mentioning one thing you discussed.

Know your rights as a candidate and an employee:

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: prohibited employment practices
• U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
• CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor): job search help, interview tips and resumes
• USA.gov: avoiding job scams

The city

The job is in Cary, NC. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Cary compares. Among the 100 largest places in North Carolina, Cary is #7 by population, #2 for remote work (#1 = most), #4 for college degrees (#1 = most), #9 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, Wake County, is #4 of 100 counties for average pay ($76,807).

The place in numbers

Cary has 179,306 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 1.7% of the population of North Carolina. It covers 61 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 2,941 people per square mile. The median age is 40.2, about the same as the state median (40.2 against 39.1).

Housing

The median gross rent is $1,738 a month (rent plus utilities), 42% above the state median ($1,738 against $1,228). Over a year that is 15.5% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $580,200, which is 4.3 times the median household income ($134,905). 66.6% of households own their home, about the same as the state average (66.6% against 66.6%).

Work and pay

The Raleigh-Cary, NC metropolitan area has 743,120 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $51,990 a year, about the same as the national median ($51,990 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (79,180 jobs, median $47,310); sales and related (74,800 jobs, median $42,450); food preparation and serving related (66,380 jobs, median $30,480). The area is most specialised in computer and mathematical (1.7 times) and life, physical, and social science (1.5 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($132,650) and computer and mathematical ($107,760). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Wake County was 2.8%. 69.0% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Wake County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 56.3% drive alone, 0.3% use public transit, 1.0% walk, 36.5% work from home. 7.1% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 49% below the state average (7.1% against 13.9%). Remote work is more common than in the state as a whole, which widens the set of employers a resident can work for without moving.

People and education

70.5% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 98% above the state share (70.5% against 35.6%). 23.9% of residents were born outside the United States, 163% above the state share (23.9% against 9.1%). The poverty rate is 5.7%, 57% below the state rate (5.7% against 13.0%).

Climate

The warmest month is Jul, averaging 80°F (26.7°C), and the coolest is Jan at 38°F (3.4°C). About 1,187 mm (47 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Aug is the wettest month (127 mm) and Jan the driest (72 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: Morrisville (4 miles, rent 7% higher); Apex (5 miles, rent 9% higher); Holly Springs (9 miles, rent 16% higher); Raleigh (11 miles, rent 10% lower). Rent differences are against Cary; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to Cary →North Carolina guideAll jobs in Cary

Official links for Cary

• Official website of Cary: carync.gov
• Census Bureau data profile for Cary
• Official state website: nc.gov
• BLS Economy at a Glance: North Carolina

These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.

Where to live

The job city has no coordinates we can place on the map, so no housing comparison is shown. Use the 250 largest cities table to compare rent and income.

Career paths

We could not match this title to one occupation, so here are the other sub-niches in Operations and Management, where your skills may carry over:

Project management (250) Supply chain and logistics (627) Business operations and strategy (1712) Executive and general management (2105)

Distances

This job has no single city we can place on the map (remote, flexible or unmatched location), so no distance table is shown. Browse all Operations and Management jobs with distances from any of the 20 largest cities.

The employer

Epic Games is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

We do not hold headcount or revenue for this employer. Check its careers site and, if it is listed on a stock exchange, its public filings (SEC EDGAR search).

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at Epic Games

Similar jobs

Same sub-niche: Program management

More jobs in Cary, NC

All Program management jobs → · All Operations and Management sub-niches →

FAQ

What is the Lead Gameplay Programmer job at Epic Games?

A private-sector role in operations and management (program management) listed 152 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Cary, NC.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on the employer's page" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Cary is $1,738 a month and median household income $134,905 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-06-10 (152 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse program management jobs in North Carolina.

Sources and terms

• Job data: Epic Games careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-06-10). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
• Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
• City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

• BLS OEWS (wages and employment by occupation, May 2025)
• BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
• BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• BLS JOLTS
• BLS State and Metro Area Employment
• Census Bureau American Community Survey (via Census Reporter)
• BEA GDP by state and Regional Price Parities
• IRS 2026 tax adjustments
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage by state
• Tax Foundation state income tax rates 2026
• USAJOBS
• USCIS
• U.S. Department of State, visas
• NASA POWER climatology
• GeoNames / Census Gazetteer (coordinates)