Lead Gameplay Programmer

The Role

Creative Assembly is looking for an experienced Lead Gameplay Programmer to join our talented Programming team on our Total War franchise. This role will be based at our headquarters in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex.

This is a rare opportunity to lead the team responsible for gameplay on the next historical Total War project. You will work closely with the projects directors to build high quality gameplay systems and help programmers, artists and designers realise their visions, explore the latest technology, and help guide the development of the battle side of the Total War game.

Flexible working at Creative Assembly includes hybrid, fully remote within country of employment for eligible roles, and in-studio. We recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and empower our teams to define the working patterns which work best for them, which may mean different things for different teams and roles and at different times.

This role can be offered as hybrid / in-studio / fully remote within country of employment. Further details can be discussed during the recruitment process.

What you’ll be doing

The successful candidate will take responsibility for hiring, leading, and mentoring within your team. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing technical effort which will drive all Total War games moving forward. 

On a day-to-day basis, you will:

• Work with designers and artists to create high-quality gameplay features, including contributing to the design and iteration of those features
• Take ownership of new and existing features, and see those features through production to release
• Create high-quality, maintainable code using up-to-date C++ practices. 

What we are looking for

• AAA games experience with one or more shipped titles
• Proven leadership ability
• Strong C++ programming skills
• Good problem-solving skills
• Ability to clearly communicate using a variety of methods to enable effective collaboration
• Experience in designing and implementing large systems
• Passionate about providing users with software that is effective and enjoyable to use
• Experience in developing on Windows with Visual Studio. 

Optional Extras

• Familiarity with C#
• Experience developing gameplay systems for strategy games or similar
• Broad gaming experience and a sense of good game design
• A keen player of strategy games and games in general, including Total War
• Experience working in an agile environment
• Perforce and other source control experience. 

About Creative Assembly

It’s an exciting time to be a part of our craft-led studio as we push boundaries, creating deep and detailed experiences that last. 

Our teams are diverse from across the world, from trainees to industry veterans who constantly challenge us and make sure we are striving for the best within our games and our studio life. We are united through our shared values of Quality, Focus, Teamwork, Respect and Trust and we win awards for our culture and our people-centric approach, having won a Best Place to Work Award for six consecutive years. We invest in our people, the studio, and our projects. We are a company that’s secure and safe – you don’t need to worry about job security at CA.

We’ll give you the creative freedom, tools, support, and development to achieve your potential. 

We have studio locations across Horsham, UK in Newcastle, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria. These include several bespoke state-of-the-art audio suites and a dedicated motion capture facility.

We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:

• Flexible working: hybrid, fully remote within country of employment for eligible roles, and in-studio working
  
  
• Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)
  
  
• Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays
  
  
• Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents, with support throughout the process from our dedicated Relocation Specialists
  
  
• Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
  
  
• Generous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all UK Bank holidays
  
  
• Annual discretionary studio bonus
  
  
• Join our award-winning education and social responsibility programme; the Legacy Project, as an industry ambassador to mentor and educate others
  
  
• Defined career development pathways and personalised training support including SEGA Dev Day, internal masterclasses, prestigious creative workshops, on-site training with renowned specialists and global conference attendance
  
  
• Opportunity to join our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led group
  
  
• Season ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on site
  
  
• Free games and merchandise plus access to our extensive games library
  
  
• Free breakfast in the studio every day - toast, bagels, pancakes, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit, smoothies, juices, milkshakes and more in our fully stocked kitchen
  
  
• Wellbeing support with an employee assistance programme and onsite confidential sessions
  
  
• In-studio heavily subsidised massage therapy
  
  
• Discounts for home technology, travel insurance, corporate gym membership, cinema tickets, holidays, trips out and Ikea vouchers, and many local businesses including estate agents
  
  
• Studio parties for you and your family; such as our Summer Festival, Christmas Party plus a separate Children’s Christmas Party. We also have Cinema days and wrap parties for game releases
  
  
• Studio community activities such as life drawing, creative writing, Pilates, Walking Challenges, Couch to 5k, basketball, game and movie evenings, board game club, 5-a-side football, CA Choir, Sword fighting (yes, sword fighting) and loads more.

Our studio sites have disabled access. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. 

Note to Recruitment Agencies: SEGA Europe Limited and our studios do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions from unauthorised third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, SEGA Europe is not liable for any fees, compensation or any other costs associated with the introduction of a candidate or recruitment services unless and until an agreement has been duly executed. Further details can be found here.​