Lead Gameplay Programmer

About Templar : As an independent developer and publisher, Templar develops the games that we want, on our own schedule. We are actively staffing up for both in-house game development and supporting published titles. Templar provides a professional yet non-corporate environment where every team member’s input and collaboration matters. Based in Alpharetta, GA just north of Atlanta, Templar is in the perfect area for those that enjoy sunny weather and a relatively low cost of living.

About the Role : As a Lead Gameplay Programmer at Templar Media, you’ll be responsible for driving the technical vision and execution of gameplay systems across our projects. You’ll work closely with design and art leadership to prototype, build, and refine the systems that define how players interact with our worlds.

This role combines hands-on development with mentorship and team coordination; perfect for someone who thrives on solving complex problems, empowering others, and ensuring the gameplay codebase is robust, scalable, and high-performing. The ideal candidate has deep Unreal Engine experience, a love of great gameplay, and a passion for guiding teams toward technical and creative excellence.

Responsibilities :

• Lead and execute the development of core gameplay systems from concept through launch and live support.
• Collaborate with design and art teams to define and refine player experiences.
• Establish best practices for gameplay architecture, performance, and code quality.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to gameplay programmers.
• Oversee feature implementation, ensuring consistency, scalability, and maintainability.
• Review and optimize existing code for efficiency, performance, and clarity.
• Work with production to plan and prioritize gameplay development tasks.
• Identify technical risks early and propose effective solutions.
• Contribute to the overall technical roadmap of the project.
• Foster a collaborative and positive work environment focused on quality and innovation.

Qualifications :

• 6+ years of professional programming experience, with at least 3 years in gameplay-focused roles.
• Strong expertise with Unreal Engine 4 or 5, including deep understanding of gameplay frameworks.
• Proficiency in C++ with strong debugging and optimization skills.
• Experience shipping at least one AA or AAA title.
• Solid understanding of 3D math, physics, animation integration, and player systems.
• Proven ability to architect, implement, and maintain large gameplay systems.
• Experience mentoring or leading other engineers.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Passion for collaboration and helping bring creative ideas to life through technology.

Preference to Applicants With :

• Experience with open-world or co-op game systems.
• Strong knowledge of Unreal’s animation, AI, and input systems.
• A deeper understanding of game AI and NPC behaviors.
• Familiarity with mission, quest, or dialogue systems.
• Experience with combat and stealth mechanics
• Experience with console development and optimization.
• Comfort working with complex, legacy, or third-party codebases.
• A love for games; particularly open-world action-adventure and cooperative experiences.

Templar offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package and a professional but non-corporate environment. This position is full-time onsite/remote at our studio in Alpharetta, GA.