Lead AI Engineer - job 1 of 3

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Lead AI Engineer to join our Boston hub and lead the development of AI for Project Sirius - A multiplayer game in the Witcher universe. 

In this position, together with the rest of the team, you will help push the envelope for immersive games in the Witcher universe, creating an emotional, action-packed open-world experience that will stay with gamers. As a Lead AI Engineer, you'll combine your leadership skills with your deep technical expertise to shape the future of our gameplay systems, driving innovation and delivering unforgettable gaming experiences.

Daily Responsibilities

• Establish and oversee the architecture and technical strategy for AI and systems
• Lead and mentor a team of talented engineers, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Develop strategic plans for the AI, including resource allocation, project timelines, and technology roadmaps.
• Collaborate closely with art, animation, design, and other engineering teams to align AI and crowd systems with the creative vision for the project.
• Drive standards for clean, high-quality, and efficient C++ code, ensuring best practices in optimization, readability, and maintainability.
• Ensure thorough documentation, both in-code and for broader knowledge-sharing, enabling smooth onboarding and collaboration within the team and across departments.
• Direct efforts to proactively identify and resolve issues, ensuring that character systems contribute to an overall polished and performant product.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in AI, navigation and behavior systems, and bring innovative ideas to the team.

• At least 7 years of professional experience as an engineer within the games industry
• Formal experience as a Manager or Lead.
• Experience in creating an AAA title for game consoles, debugging, and profiling these games in a console environment.
• Good knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 - especially features and systems related to the AI, navigation, smart objects, movement, etc.
• Experience with Multiplayer, syncing game states, and NPCs.
• Experience with removing systems from the Main Thread.
• Knowledge of modern game systems architecture.
• Deep knowledge of C++.
• Math & algorithmic skills.
• Good & practical knowledge of code parallelization.
• Being able to work with not only programmers but also artists and designers in a multilingual environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience working in an Agile development environment is a plus, with a mindset geared towards adaptability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The application window for this position will close by 04/30/2026.

This job requires working in Boston, US.
Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity. 

Remote roles in the US are only available to candidates that reside in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.

Health & Well-Being

• Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
• Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
• Paid leave — 20 days of holiday per year (26 days after two years).
• 401K with employer matching.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement.
• Menstrual leave — employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
• RED Parents Network — support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.

Perks & Professional Growth

• Flexible working hours.
• Trainings, lectures, and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
• A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office

• Dog-friendly office — bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet.
• Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
• No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.

This position is a new role.

Estimated pay range for this position: $168,200 - $257,000 USD annually. 
This role may be eligible for a long term incentive program (option to purchase CDPR stock after the vesting period). Final offers are dependent on job-related factors like experience and qualifications.

At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on job-related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.

If you've observed any irregularities (i.e. legal or ethical violations) in our recruitment process, please click here to report them anonymously.

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