Software Engineer - Game Development (Fixed-Term Contract)

This is a fixed-term contract until December 2026.

Company Overview:

PlaySide Studios is a dynamic and innovative company that employs individuals across Australia, New Zealand & UAE. As Australia's largest publicly listed independent video game developer, PlaySide is committed to delivering cutting-edge interactive experiences across mobile, VR, AR, PC and consoles. With a diverse portfolio of more than 60 titles and collaborations with industry giants like Netflix and Activision Blizzard, working at PlaySide is not just a job but an opportunity to be part innovating the gaming industry.

Position Overview:

At PlaySide, we believe that great games aren't just built. They’re engineered with a passion for clean code and smooth performance. We’re looking for a Software Engineer who lives and breathes development and understands that a solid codebase is the backbone of a great player experience. Whether you’re diving into performance profiling, refining our dev workflows, or helping out a teammate, your goal is to help us ship world-class games rooted in smart architecture and a constant drive to improve.

Key Responsibilities:

• Promote OOP and SOLID principles to build highly testable, maintainable codebases while identifying and resolving architectural bottlenecks.
• Proactively diagnose and fix performance and memory issues using Chrome DevTools, heap snapshots, and CPU profiling to ensure runtime efficiency.
• Balance speed and production-readiness by determining when to use rapid prototyping versus high-abstraction, reusable components.
• Educate junior engineers on design patterns and technical best practices, fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration.
• Translate complex technical concepts for non-engineering stakeholders and maintain clear, accurate project documentation.
• Accurately estimate task timelines, track progress, and proactively communicate deviations or blockers to the wider team.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging technologies through independent research and suggest proactive improvements to the existing codebase.

What you bring to the table:

• Demonstrated experience contributing to shipped games, with a solid grasp of Unreal Engine systems, rendering, asset pipelines, and editor tooling workflows.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles and design patterns, with the ability to write clean, maintainable code that meets project conventions.
• Knowledge of hardware-related concepts (CPU/Cache, GPU/VRAM) and proficiency in using Unreal Insights or similar tools to manage memory and garbage collection.
• Ability to develop and maintain standardized playbooks for common engine tasks to accelerate development without compromising quality.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to mentor junior staff, facilitate open technical discussions, and translate complex concepts for non-engineering team members.
• A proactive learner with excellent debugging skills, capable of identifying common architectural mistakes and staying updated on emerging technologies and engine updates.

What we offer here at PlaySide!

• PlayDays - an additional 5 paid days off per year to do something you love.
• The ability to choose when you begin and end your workday, in line with our core business.
• Industry-leading Parental Leave benefits.
• Relocation Assistance.
• Employee Assistance Program to support mental well-being.
• Mentoring opportunities to help you grow in your role.
• Social events including Games night, karaoke nights, Movie Nights (We hire out the cinema!), group activities, and food trucks! Just as some examples!