Senior AI Engineer - Contract
Company: Turtle Rock Studios
Location: Irvine, CA (Remote)
Salary: $136,000 - $172,000 a year
Type: Full-time
Remote: Yes
Posted: 2026-05-16
About this role
At Turtle Rock, we make the games we want to play. We're dedicated to providing a collaborative environment where our team members feel empowered with the creative freedom to contribute and grow. While we are based in Orange County, CA, we support flexible work arrangements ranging from in-studio, hybrid, to fully remote throughout North America. Join our award-winning game development team and help create our next hit title.
We're seeking an experienced contract Sr. AI Engineer to maintain and extend the AI systems at the heart of our game. In this role, you'll author character behaviors, collaborate closely with designers to shape AI-friendly playspaces, and tune characters through playtesting. All while keeping performance within tight CPU and memory budgets.
### Responsibilities
- Maintain and extend core AI and character systems
- Author AI behaviors for in-game characters
- Work with design team to create playable spaces conducive to AI interaction
- Revise and tune characters based on design goals and playtest feedback
- Profile and optimize code to meet memory and CPU budgets
### Requirements
- Comfortable working directly with designers in an iterative environment
- Solid understanding of different aspects of game AI (navigation, behavior, etc)
- At least one shipped game
- Proficiency in C/C++ and Microsoft Visual Studio
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
- Solid math skills
Preferences
- Previous work on Multiplayer Action Games and FPS's a plus
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Computer Science or Engineering
- Unreal Engine 5 experience
- Shipped a console game
### Benefits
Some of the benefits and perks our employees get to enjoy, include:
- 100% Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage for you and your family
- Retirement Savings Plan Matching
- Career Improvement Plan
- Flexible Work Arrangements - In-House, Hybrid, and Remote
- Generous Time Off Policy
- Company Events - In-Person + Virtual Events
- Fully Stocked Kitchen...