Senior AI Gameplay Programmer

Role Overview

The Senior AI Programmer at Starbreeze leads the technical development of AI systems that make our game worlds feel alive, reactive and challenging. Combining deep AI programming expertise with strong gameplay sensibility, you work with considerable autonomy across the full development cycle - architecting enemy behaviours, decision-making frameworks and perception systems that define the quality and depth of the player experience in our multiplayer environment. The role is based in Stockholm.

Key Responsibilities

Architect, implement and iterate on complex AI systems including enemy behaviours, perception, decision-making, navigation and group coordination, ensuring they are robust, scalable and performant in a multiplayer environmentAct as the primary technical authority for AI programming, contributing to high-level design discussions and shaping the direction of AI systems from early concept through to liveCollaborate closely with game directors, designers and other disciplines to ensure AI features are technically sound, creatively aligned and deliver compelling, believable gameplay experiencesIdentify and resolve complex and systemic AI issues across both development and live environments, ensuring robust, performant and maintainable solutionsDefine and evolve AI programming standards, architecture patterns and best practices, improving the quality and consistency of AI systems across the teamEvaluate new AI techniques, tools, engine features and third-party solutions, making informed recommendations that advance both AI quality and production efficiencyMentor and support less experienced programmers, providing technical guidance on AI architecture, debugging practices and gameplay systems development

Extensive experience as an AI or Gameplay Programmer in the games industry with multiple shipped titles, including at least one in a senior or lead capacity with a strong AI focusExpert-level proficiency in C++ with deep hands-on experience developing complex AI systems in Unreal Engine, including behaviour trees, EQS and navigation systemsStrong understanding of AI programming concepts including finite state machines, goal-oriented action planning, perception systems and group AI behavioursSolid grounding in gameplay architecture, physics, animation integration and real-time performance optimisation in the context of AIProven ability to drive AI features end-to-end with minimal guidance, from technical design through to final tuning and polishExcellent collaborator with the ability to communicate complex AI topics clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholdersExperience with live service games, AI balancing and post-launch AI iteration is a strong plusFamiliarity with performance profiling, optimisation tools and engine-level debugging is expected