Principal Engineer, Game Systems

Level is a learning technology company building interactive educational experiences for students, teachers, and parents. We're seeking a Principal Engineer, Game Systems to lead the design and architecture of our core game systems platform, working with C++ and Godot-based technology.

About the Role

As Principal Engineer, Game Systems, you'll own the technical vision for our game systems architecture while mentoring engineers and collaborating across product, design, and services teams. This role combines hands-on engineering with technical leadership, focusing on building scalable, high-performance systems that power engaging learning experiences for students and educators.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-quality, performant, and scalable software using C++ and high-level scripting in a Godot-derived tech stack
• Lead technical architecture decisions and drive engineering excellence across the EdTech team
• Mentor and guide engineers, fostering technical growth and establishing best practices
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including producers and online services—to translate product requirements into functional solutions
• Champion usability and user experience in all technical decisions, ensuring products are intuitive for students and educators
• Contribute across the full software development lifecycle, from prototyping and development through testing and release
• Monitor emerging software development technologies and industry trends to keep the team current

Requirements

• Deep expertise in C++ with a demonstrated track record architecting and building complex, performance-critical systems
• Proven experience as a technical leader who mentors and elevates the skills of those around you
• Strong sense for usability and user experience, with the ability to make technical decisions that enhance end-user outcomes
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence technical direction across teams
• Experience with Godot (preferred)
• Experience with real-time systems and multi-threaded programming (preferred)
• Experience building products used by non-technical adults and children as young as 8 (preferred)
• Background in educational technology or learning platforms (preferred)

Location

Austin, TX