Simulation Engineer

Please note that this is a hybrid position with a mixture of in-office (required) and home-based working (optional).

While we welcome all applications, this role does not offer relocation assistance. We encourage applications from candidates who are local to New York State or are able to relocate independently.

Part of the Rocket Science Group, Atomic Theory is a multinational team of seasoned AAA veterans with roots extending from Blizzard, PUBG, Epic, and Unity. We have a track record of delivering player-centric, AAA-quality experiences, and we're unwavering in our commitment to performance, accessibility, and the engineering frameworks that underpin exceptional gameplay.

Atomic Theory is more than just a studio — it's a collaborative space where diverse experiences intersect to solve the toughest challenges in modern game development. With offices in Albany NY, Cardiff UK, and Brighton UK, we thrive at the opportunity to Get Sh!t Done on a global scale.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are seeking a C++ / Simulation Engineer to drive the performance, architecture, and migration efforts of our simulation projects. In this role, you will migrate existing systems to C++, implement Flecs ECS patterns, and optimize simulation performance to support large-scale, multi-server environments. You will be responsible for the core simulation logic that powers our partners’ interactive experiences.

An ideal candidate is passionate about games, enjoys tackling a wide range of technical challenges, and has a track record of delivering great player and customer experiences across different areas of game development.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• C++ Migration: Identify and migrate under-performing GDScript systems to C++ for improved performance and maintainability.

• ECS Implementation: Design and implement simulation logic using the Flecs ECS framework, ensuring efficient data locality and scalability.

• Performance Optimization: Profile simulation workloads, identify bottlenecks, and apply multithreading techniques to optimize frame time.

• Serialization & State: Develop robust serialization and state replication systems for distributed simulation support.

• Technical Design: Collaborate with the team to break down complex simulation requirements and deliver practical, high-performance solutions.

WHAT WE VALUE:

• Strong C++ Skills: Professional experience with modern C++ (C++17/20), with a focus on performance and memory management.

• ECS Experience: Proficiency with Entity Component System architectures, preferably with Flecs.

• Mathematical Fundamentals: Solid understanding of linear algebra, physics, and simulation mathematics.

• Engineering Excellence: A commitment to writing clean, testable, and efficient code.

• Problem Solving: Ability to debug complex state issues and optimize performance-critical code paths.

• Breadth of Experience: Comfort working across different systems and disciplines within game development, with a generalist mindset.

• Team Collaboration: Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with engineers, designers, producers, and project leads.

• Problem Solving: A proactive and thoughtful approach to identifying, diagnosing, and resolving technical challenges.

• Passion for Gaming: A genuine enthusiasm for games and a desire to help create engaging, high-quality experiences for players.

• Interest in Learning: Curiosity and eagerness to learn new technologies, engines, and practices to remain adaptable and effective.

WHAT YOU MAY ALSO HAVE:

• GDScript Experience: Familiarity with Godot/GDScript to assist in migration efforts.

• Distributed Simulation: Experience with networking, state synchronization, or multi-server architectures.

• Multithreading: Advanced knowledge of concurrency, lock-free data structures, and parallel processing.

• Mentorship Skills: Experience supporting or mentoring less experienced developers as they build new skills.

• Stakeholder Communication: Experience working with internal or external partners to gather feedback, provide technical input, and solve problems collaboratively.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER:

• Hybrid Working Arrangement: As a member of our team, you’ll have the flexibility to work at home and collaborate with your fellow engineers in person!

• Competitive Salary and Benefits Package: Your health and wellbeing is important to us, so we offer a variety of benefits including:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

  • 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Matching

  • Annual Leave, Plus 9 Paid Holidays and Winter Break Office Closure

• Annual Research Credit: We always encourage personal growth, so we provide all of our team members with an annual credit to further enhance your skills!

• Professional Development: We offer biannual reviews, as well as opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, internal tech talks, and the chance to learn from specialists with backgrounds from across the games and software development industries.

• Work-Life Balance: We really believe that home life comes first and we promote a flexible working environment. And as an added bonus: We don’t crunch!

• Family Friendly: We understand the importance of family, which is why we offer 6 weeks full of Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave to support you during this exciting time!

• Office Perks: In addition to everything above, we also provide:

  • Weekly Team Lunches (plus Snacks!)

  • Fully Equipped Team Lounge, Including our Favorite Consoles and Games

  • And, most importantly, a supportive and creative working environment made up of talented and friendly people, as well as the opportunity to work on some pretty cool games and projects – if we do say so ourselves!

A Friendly Note from the Recruitment Team:

Let us do the work for you: Even if your profile isn’t an exact match for all of the qualifications listed above, we still want you to apply. Our team members come from a variety of different industries, not all of which are immediately relevant to game or software development, and we welcome all candidates of similarly varied backgrounds, communities, and identities.

Rocket Science is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a worry-free workplace void of discrimination or harassment. Rocket Scientists are expected to foster and champion an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve.

The salary for this role is typically within the range of $60,000 - $140,000/year. Please note that this range includes multiple levels of experience and actual pay will ultimately be contingent upon a variety of factors, including your own combination of experience, skills, and qualifications.

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