AI Programmer - Studio Elevation (Remote within the UK)

We are looking for a skilled AI Programmer to join our dynamic team. You will play a crucial role in developing innovative AI systems essential to our gameplay experiences within Virtual Reality, while collaboratively helping us explore, refine, and polish AI-driven VR gameplay. This position is ideal for someone passionate about AI in games, who thrives in collaborative, creative environments, and is keen to push the boundaries of what is possible with VR. 

The rundown:  

• 12 month Fixed Term Contract 

• Full time (37.5 hours per week) 

• Fully remote within the UK 

• Competitive and dependent on experience

Key responsibilities: 

• Develop AI algorithms for immersive NPC behaviours and interactions.   

• Collaborate with teams to integrate AI with VR-specific gameplay mechanics and design. 

• Optimize AI performance for VR platforms, ensuring a smooth player experience. 

• Research and implement cutting-edge AI techniques suitable for VR environments within Unreal Engine 5. 

• Build scalable AI frameworks and tools for future projects. 

• Address VR-specific AI challenges, such as spatial awareness and player interaction. 

• Support QA teams in identifying and resolving AI-related issues. 
• Implement and develop Game AI systems tailored to VR environments. 
• Collaborate with designers and engineers to craft intelligent NPCs and reactive game worlds. 
• Work alongside other disciplines, planning AI alongside animation, gameplay, art, audio and design requirements for best player experience. 
• Contribute to best practices for AI programming in VR. 

Requirements

The skills you’ll need:  

• Proficiency in C++ and a strong understanding of Unreal Engine 5. 

• Experience developing AI systems for games, including navigation and behaviour trees or similar, on at least one shipped game. 

• Knowledge of 3D math and optimization techniques, particularly for real-time systems. 

• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills, with attention to performance in VR. 

The nice to haves:  

• Familiarity with VR development challenges and opportunities. 

• Prior experience with Perforce and Visual Studio. 

• Experience developing for Oculus/Meta, Steam and/or consoles. 

• Experience with animation programming. 

Benefits

We are nDreams – we develop and publish the world’s most immersive VR games. You may know us as the developer behind Synapse, Phantom: Covert Ops, Fracked, and Frenzies. As a publisher, we have also supported the release of other studio’s titles including Little Cities, PowerWash Simulator VR, and Vendetta Forever. With humble beginnings as an independent studio, we combine amazing projects with a personal, caring touch. We’ve got more incredible titles to be announced soon! 

We believe the best workplaces and games are created by diverse, happy and safe teams. We're committed to building a culture centred on respect, wellbeing and balance. It's crucial we make our games and industry more accessible to underrepresented communities. We strive to live this through the people we hire, the experiences we create and the causes we support. 

We want everyone to have the opportunity to bring their best, authentic self to work. Please let us know if you require reasonable adjustments during the interview process by emailing interviewing@ndreams.com or speaking to your nDreams recruiter. For more information about reasonable adjustments, check out this guidance from Scope.  

We offer great perks, including flexible hours, duvets days, your birthday off, dedicated personal development time and support, as well as regular socials. Beyond this, there’s an excellent holiday offering, pension scheme, health insurance, life cover and much more.