Senior Gameplay Programmer - AI

As a Senior Gameplay Programmer - AI at Insomniac, your responsibilities include collaborating with content teams to design and implement engaging enemy and ally interactions, providing mentorship to junior programmers, and architecting systems that enhance player experiences. You'll focus on ensuring high-quality AI<>Player interactions while critically evaluating feature designs and contributing to the overall project scope. Essentially, you'll be integral in shaping the gaming experience and ensuring our AI systems are robust and flexible.

To be considered for the Senior Gameplay Programmer - AI position at Insomniac, you should have prior experience with AI features in games, strong C++ programming skills, and knowledge of performance optimization and memory management. An understanding of mathematical concepts like 3D math and linear algebra is crucial, as is a commitment to player-centered design. Additionally, your ability to effectively communicate and advocate for features will be invaluable in this role.

At Insomniac, we truly value professional development for Senior Gameplay Programmers - AI. You'll have opportunities to mentor junior staff, participate in special interest groups focused on AI, and engage in code reviews that promote knowledge sharing. Moreover, the inclusive environment encourages collaboration across teams, allowing you to expand your skills and take ownership of your projects while learning from seasoned developers in our innovative atmosphere.

For the Senior Gameplay Programmer - AI role at Insomniac, extensive knowledge of C++ is essential. This language is used for implementing the core features and systems of our gameplay. Understanding programming principles, optimization techniques, and memory management practices will significantly enhance your contributions. Familiarity with tools and languages related to 3D graphics and AI can also be beneficial as you develop immersive gameplay experiences.

As a Senior Gameplay Programmer - AI at Insomniac, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes competitive pay, medical and dental insurance, a matching 401(k), paid time off, and a wellness program. You'll also have access to unique employee discounts on Sony products, making your gaming experience even more rewarding! Additionally, the role offers hybrid working opportunities, fostering a work-life balance that prioritizes both productivity and personal well-being.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects you've worked on that involved AI programming. Discuss your role, the technologies you used, and any challenges you overcame to implement engaging AI features. Highlight your ability to anticipate player needs and create AI behaviors that enhance gameplay.

In your response, emphasize your understanding of performance optimization techniques, such as profiling and identifying bottlenecks. Share examples of how you've successfully optimized code in past projects and discuss your commitment to writing efficient, maintainable code while ensuring a smooth player experience.

Here, discuss your time management strategies and tools you use to keep track of your workload. Explain how you assess the complexity and urgency of tasks and any experience you have with Agile or other project management methodologies to illustrate your ability to adapt and deliver under pressure.

When sharing an example, choose a project that required input from multiple disciplines. Explain your role, the communication methods you used, and how teamwork facilitated the project's success. Highlight the importance of empathy and understanding different perspectives in achieving a cohesive result.

Provide a detailed answer discussing the specific tools or software you've used for debugging. Mention any integrated development environments (IDEs) or debugging profilers you find effective and how they have helped you resolve issues in code more efficiently.

In your answer, demonstrate your openness to constructive criticism and how you view code reviews as growth opportunities. Discuss how you've implemented feedback in the past and the importance of maintaining a collaborative mindset in enhancing overall code quality.

Focus on the principles of player-centered design and how they apply to AI development. Share insights on how understanding player behavior and preferences informs your AI programming decisions, and provide examples of how you've successfully integrated player feedback into your designs.

Detail your approach to designing AI systems that can accommodate future expansions or feature additions. Discuss architectural principles you follow to ensure scalability and share examples of systems you've implemented that successfully adapted to various gameplay scenarios.

When discussing estimation strategies, share methods you've found effective, such as historical data analysis or consulting with teammates. Emphasize the importance of clear communication regarding progress and any adjustments needed throughout development.

In your response, express genuine excitement for the role and alignment with the company’s values. Talk about your passion for gaming and innovation, and mention specific projects from Insomniac that inspire you. This will demonstrate your enthusiasm and the research you've done about the company.