Website Deck 13 Interactive
Deck 13 Interactive, the renowned development force behind the visceral “Soulslike” combat of The Surge series, the dark fantasy of Lords of the Fallen, and the innovative sand-shaping mechanics of Atlas Fallen, is hunting for a technical titan. We are seeking a Lead Game Programmer to spearhead our engineering efforts from our headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, with flexible remote options available across Germany.
As a Lead Game Programmer, you are the architect of our digital reality. You will bridge the gap between abstract creative concepts and high-performance C++ execution. This is a role for a leader who still loves the “clack” of the mechanical keyboard—balancing high-level technical strategy and mentorship with hands-on development in Unreal Engine 5. You won’t just be managing a team; you will be setting the gold standard for engineering excellence in the European gaming industry.
Core Position Overview: Lead Game Programmer
| Category | Details |
| Company Name | Deck 13 Interactive (PulluP Entertainment Group) |
| Job Title | Lead Game Programmer (f/m/x) |
| Location | Frankfurt am Main, Germany / Remote (Within Germany) |
| Employment Type | Full-time |
| Salary Range | Competitive (Aligned with Lead/Management standards in the EU) |
| Primary Tech Stack | Unreal Engine 5, C++, System Architecture |
| Experience Required | 5+ Years Industry Exp / 3+ Years Leadership Exp |
| Core Expertise | C++, Console Performance, Architecture, Mentorship |
Our Story: Engineering Excellence Since 2001
Based in the heart of Frankfurt, Deck 13 Interactive has spent over two decades pushing the boundaries of what is possible on PC and console hardware. Now a flagship studio within the PulluP Entertainment group, we have scaled our ambitions while maintaining the tight-knit, collaborative spirit of our 100-person team.
Our engineering philosophy is rooted in stability, scalability, and innovation. We believe that the best gameplay experiences are built on a foundation of clean, performant code. As we move deeper into the era of Unreal Engine 5, we are looking for a Lead who can navigate the complexities of Nanite, Lumen, and massive-world streaming while keeping our custom development tools sharp and our gameplay systems responsive.
Your Quest: The Mission & Responsibilities
Your role is a multifaceted challenge that demands technical brilliance and emotional intelligence. Your mission includes:
1. Technical Architecture & System Design
Unreal Engine 5 Mastery: Lead the design and implementation of core systems within UE5, focusing on performance, stability, and long-term scalability for our upcoming ambitious projects.
Tool Development: Oversee the creation and maintenance of custom editor extensions and internal development tools that empower our artists and designers to work at the speed of thought.
Performance & Optimization: Take ownership of the technical health of the project, ensuring our games run flawlessly on next-gen consoles and high-end PCs.
2. Leadership & Mentorship
Empowering Engineers: Mentor a diverse team of programmers across various experience levels. You aren’t just a manager; you are a coach, helping junior and mid-level devs master C++ and UE5 architecture.
Code Quality: Establish and enforce rigorous coding standards and best practices. You will lead the charge in code reviews, fostering a culture where “good enough” is replaced by “excellence.”
Professional Growth: Identify skill gaps within the team and provide the resources and guidance necessary for every engineer to thrive.
3. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Bridging the Gap: Collaborate daily with Leads from Animation, Art, VFX, and Design to ensure technical solutions align perfectly with the creative vision.
Innovation Scouting: Evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends. Whether it’s a new AI navigation technique or a breakthrough in animation compression, you will determine what fits into the Deck 13 toolkit.
Problem Solving: Act as the ultimate “firefighter” for complex technical issues, debugging cross-discipline bugs that others might find insurmountable.
Your Toolkit: Qualifications & Experience
Deck 13 is looking for a battle-hardened programmer who has seen multiple projects through the entire lifecycle, from whiteboarding to the day-one patch.
The Essentials:
Leadership Pedigree: Proven experience managing game development teams. You know how to motivate developers, manage technical debt, and hit milestones without compromising quality.
C++ Mastery: Advanced proficiency in C++ is a must. You should have a deep understanding of memory management, multi-threading, and hardware-specific optimization.
Shipped Titles: At least one successfully shipped title on modern consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X/S) where you held a supervisory or lead role.
System Design: Extensive experience developing scalable gameplay systems and custom editor tools.
Communication: Exceptional command of the English language. You can explain a memory leak to a producer and a design constraint to an artist with equal clarity.
Bonus Power-Ups:
Deep internal knowledge of Unreal Engine’s source code.
Proficiency in C# (for tools) or Python (for pipeline automation).
A history of contributing to open-source projects or the wider game-dev community.
Specialized expertise in high-level AI systems or physics-driven animation.
Power-Ups: The Deck 13 Experience
Deck 13 believe that the best code is written by developers who are well-rested, physically healthy, and mentally supported. Our benefits include:
Central Hub: A modern, high-tech office in Frankfurt (near Messe), perfectly situated for local commuters and travelers.
Remote Support: A monthly allowance for remote working setup and expenses if you work from home within Germany.
Continuous Learning: A dedicated yearly budget for books, courses, and conferences, plus free language classes.
Well-being: Free access to the Bloom mental health platform and monthly gym membership allowances.
Travel: A monthly allowance for the Deutschlandticket, making your commute or weekend travels stress-free.
Time to Recharge: 28 days of paid vacation, plus the 24th and 31st of December as guaranteed holidays.
Financial Incentives: Tax-free Probonio vouchers every month for extra purchasing power.
Our Commitment to Inclusivity
At Deck 13 Interactive, we are an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that diverse perspectives lead to better problem-solving and more creative games. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or background. Our 100-person team is a global community, and we want you to find your home here.
How to Apply
Are you ready to lead the technical charge at one of Germany’s premier studios?
Submission Requirements:
Detailed CV: Highlighting your leadership experience and shipped titles.
Code Samples/GitHub: If available, show us your architectural style or a tool you’ve built.
Cover Letter: Tell us about a complex technical problem you solved and how you led your team through it.
To apply for this job please visit deck13jobs.kenjo.io.