*Please note you will need to have working rights in Australia. At this stage, we cannot sponsor a working visa. This is an in-person, on-location, in-studio position.*
Big Ant is looking for a highly talented and motivated Career Mode Programmer to join the Career Team at our Melbourne Studio. Career and Management modes are features in our games that allow users to play multiple seasons as a player or coach, participating in matches and managing the off-field aspects of a player, team or club.
You will be working on a bespoke game engine, helping to enhance and implement features based on real-world sporting organisations. You will be using a combination of C++ and Lua to create and maintain systems such as recruitment, player development, fixtures and match simulation.
You will be joining a small collaborative team that loves sports and is passionate about making sports games.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Utilising the existing code base to implement the off-field mechanisms of sporting organisations
- Contribute to the tooling to help automated testing of the simulation elements of the game
- Expand and upgrade the career and management mode engine infrastructure
- Bug fixing and maintaining the existing Big Ant Engine code base
We are looking for someone with:
- Degree in software engineering, computer science, or equivalent
- Very good understanding of C++
- Comfortable with game design and implementation
With extra consideration given to:
- Knowledge of scripting languages (Lua, Python)
- Good debugging skills
- Knowledge of C#
You will have:
- Knowledge of software programming, ideally in the video game industry or other relevant experience
- Basic knowledge of engine or middleware and associated pipeline
- Passionate about playing and making games
- Basic knowledge of debugging tools
- Familiar with basic speed and memory considerations
- Familiar with optimisation principles
- Ability to anticipate and resolve problems
- Excellent attention to detail
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to adapt to change
- Ability to quickly learn to use new tools and systems
- Works well with designers and artists to implement the vision of the game
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Passion for sport and intimate knowledge of at least one sport in an off-field capacity
You also need to be:
- Eager & Open-Minded: You thrive on feedback and are excited to refine your designs based on playtest data and senior mentorship.
- Driven & Accountable: You take pride in your work and ensure your tasks are completed to a high standard.
- A Natural Problem-Solver: You love puzzles and are prepared to learn the technical complexities involved in data-rich sports design.
- Detail-Oriented: You always strive for quality, ensuring every asset you produce is clean, cohesive, and on-brand.
- A Creative Learner: You are always looking for fresh ways to present information and stay up-to-date with current UI trends.
The Company:
Big Ant Studios is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected game developers.
With our flagship studio in Melbourne’s Southbank and our rapidly growing second home in the Adelaide CBD, we specialise in high-quality sports simulations. We continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in sports gaming on a global stage, leveraging the incredible talent across both Victorian and South Australian development hubs.
Benefits:
- Catered Lunches: Provided by the studio, Monday to Thursday.
- Social Culture: Optional Breakfast and Dinner Fridays.
- Commuter Support: Yearly Myki cards (Melbourne Studio).
- Growth: Professional development and training support.
- Environment: A social, collaborative culture in a centralised workplace.
At Big Ant, we believe diverse perspectives and backgrounds are key to creating experiences everyone can enjoy. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
REMINDER: *Applications will only be considered from those with existing Australian working rights.*
Please include links to your Portfolio and LinkedIn/Personal Website with your application.