Senior Gameplay Programmer (Contractor)

If you’re looking to make the best co-op games in the world, you’ve come to the right place. We're proud to have some of the best game makers and collaborators in the industry working with us. What's more, we're a fun bunch of game developers, who love to indulge in our passion for video games together. Our games are not for everyone. Are they for you?

We are now looking for a Senior Gameplay Programmer

We're expanding our gameplay programming team and looking for a senior, experienced developer who cares about writing clean and maintainable code, with a specific focus on gameplay UI systems.

You'll be joining a collaborative team of engineers, designers, and artists who enjoy solving complex problems together. We're not just looking for someone who can write code, we're looking for someone who can shape UI systems end-to-end, guide teammates, and balance clarity, performance, and creativity in everything they do.

We use a heavily customized version of Stingray, and our development is primarily in C++. The focus is on building gameplay and UI systems that are reliable, scalable, and performant, particularly for multiplayer and live service environments.

Please note:

• Fixed-term role (12 months) - Therefore, we're not able to offer relocation assistance or visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must already hold the right to work in Sweden and be based in or around Stockholm.

• Hands-on, senior role with the expectation that you can take ownership from day one with minimal ramp-up.

What you’ll do

• Design, implement, and maintain gameplay and UI systems and features in C++.

• Build and own UI systems using WPF or MVVM architectural patterns.

• Build dynamic systems that interact in overlapping, emergent ways.

• Write gameplay and UI code that is clean, scalable, and performance-aware.

• Profile and optimize systems to keep frame time, memory, and networking stable.

• Debug complex gameplay and UI issues, from multi-system interactions to edge cases.

• Collaborate with design, QA, and production to ensure features are technically robust and engaging for players.

• Help maintain consistent standards through code reviews, discussions, and technical guidance.

• Contribute to a healthy, collaborative team culture by sharing knowledge and supporting peers.

• Act as a point of clarity in design and implementation, supporting alignment across technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Work with industry-standard tools for production tracking (e.g., Jira, Confluence) to keep work transparent and traceable.

• Write and maintain documentation that makes systems, workflows, and decisions clear to the team

What we’re looking for

• Excellent C++ skills and deep, senior-level experience in a game engine context.

• 5+ years of hands-on experience developing gameplay features and systems, especially for multiplayer games (shooters a strong plus).

• Hands-on experience with UI development, including procedural/noise-based techniques.

• Experience with either WPF or MVVM architectural patterns.

• Solid understanding of UI design principles and familiarity with industry-standard UI design tools.

• Strong understanding of CPU architecture, memory, and performance trade-offs.

• Ability to create gameplay and UI systems that support emergent interactions.

• Familiarity with a broad range of development areas: gameplay, content creation, physics, animation, AI, and systems integration.

• Strong foundation in 3D math (linear algebra, vectors, matrices).

• One or more shipped titles in a C++ environment (custom engine, Unreal, or Unity).

• Experience with live service development and maintaining code post-launch.

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

You’ll be a great fit if…

• You're a senior engineer who can operate independently from day one, with little onboarding needed.

• You enjoy solving hard problems and sharing what you learn.

• You care about writing maintainable code that others can understand and extend.

• You're collaborative, supportive, and open to feedback, and you give it kindly too.

• You're curious, practical, and like to keep things relaxed but focused.

• You're comfortable driving technical alignment across both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

How to apply

If you think that this position matches your background and skills, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV in English as soon as possible.

We ask that your application always include relevant work samples or a link to your portfolio.

We interview candidates continuously and hire when we find a good fit.

Practical Information

• Contract type: Fixed-term, 12 months (ideal start: October).

• Scope: Full-time, 40 hours per week.

• Location: Stockholm office, hybrid setup possible.

• Eligibility: You must already have the right to work in Sweden and be based in or near Stockholm.

We are unable to offer relocation assistance or visa sponsorship for this role.

We are a pet friendly office! You can expect to find dogs and occasionally some cats around.

What we offer

Arrowhead Game Studios is a growing team of about 140+ people, best known for our co-op titles. Despite our size, we remain a friendly and down to earth bunch, who love to indulge in our passion for video games together.

Located in the heart of Södermalm, in Fatburen in the middle of the Game Dev scene we enjoy everything Stockholm has to offer. The is a a lot of different types of activities immediately available on our doorstep.

Our talented developers are crucial to our success, therefore we put a lot of emphasis in creating and maintaining a prosperous culture. We’re committed to open and transparent communication. Your ideas are welcomed, valued, appreciated - the ceiling for creative discussions is high.

We also have numerous work benefits for all our employees. You can read about them here!