Systems Engineer (Principal/Lead)

Job Summary

Bonfire is seeking a Principal/Lead Systems Engineer to shape the foundational technology powering Arkheron, our first original IP: a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world.

About the Role

The role demands deep experience building systems for competitive multiplayer games, where engine performance, hardware constraints, and platform characteristics have a direct impact on responsiveness and player experience. The ideal candidate will contribute to shaping the architecture, optimization, and long-term evolution of core engine systems in Unity/DOTS (C# and C/C++).

Responsibilities

• Shaping the architecture, optimization, and long-term evolution of core engine systems in Unity/DOTS (C# and C/C++) — spanning runtime performance, memory management, platform-specific optimization (PC and consoles), networking infrastructure, graphics, and tooling.
• Driving complex technical decisions across console performance and low-level systems architecture, with reach into graphics, tooling, and engine infrastructure to ensure our systems scale for both developers and players.
• Collaborating with internal and external leads to advance engine platform capabilities — including console features, anti-cheat, and team workflows.
• Tackling high-impact projects such as optimizing iteration pipelines, building live-editable profiling systems, and enhancing runtime systems like rendering, streaming, and netcode.
• Creating tools and APIs that make developers' lives easier and help the team deliver high-quality content faster.
• Jumping into other areas as needed — from audio to UI to gameplay systems — to support the broader team.
• Contributing beyond core engineering, leaning on your passions and perspectives to help the studio grow.
• (Lead) Providing technical leadership and mentorship across a senior engineering team — fostering autonomy, accountability, and growth through clear direction, constructive feedback, and deliberate skill development.

Requirements

• Have shipped multiple titles with deep, hands-on experience leading technical direction on proprietary, custom, or heavily modified engines for AAA games on PC and modern consoles.
• Bring proven experience building and optimizing systems for competitive multiplayer games, with a sharp understanding of how low-level decisions impact responsiveness and player experience.
• Have deep expertise in high-performance real-time systems, multi-threaded architecture, and ECS paradigms.
• (Lead) Have led and grown senior engineering teams, and can provide the mentorship and clarity that high-performing engineers need to do their best work.
• Enjoy solving the hardest problems — whether debugging elusive issues, optimizing complex systems, or making foundational architectural calls with long-term consequences.
• Thrive on curiosity and adaptability, eager to dive into new areas and unfamiliar code.
• Value collaboration, trust, and diverse perspectives, building strong partnerships across the studio.
• Carry a genuine passion for both technology and the creative process of making games.

What We’re Excited About You Bringing

• Experience shipping competitive multiplayer games.
• Proven experience building and optimizing systems for competitive multiplayer games.
• Deep expertise in high-performance real-time systems, multi-threaded architecture, and ECS paradigms.
• (Lead) Experience leading and growing senior engineering teams.
• A passion for both technology and the creative process of making games.

What We Might Not Be The Role For You If

• You prefer working only within well-defined boundaries.
• You're most comfortable using engines off the shelf rather than going deep into proprietary or heavily customized ones.
• You haven't shipped competitive multiplayer games or don't have strong intuition for how low-level systems decisions affect player experience at scale.
• You prefer focusing on gameplay features rather than engine-level systems, optimizations, or developer tools.
• You find debugging, profiling, and low-level optimizations tedious.
• You're uncomfortable working in a live service environment where iteration, scalability, and constant improvement are essential.
• (Lead) You're earlier in your leadership journey — this role requires credibly leading and mentoring a team of senior engineers, not growing into that responsibility.

Why Bonfire?

• We embrace bold challenges with creativity and courage, making the tough calls to build a game we’re proud to play every day.
• We keep fun at the core: we play Arkheron daily, staying grounded as players. If it’s not more fun than yesterday, we fix it. We don’t chase trends; we listen by playing.
• We stay truly independent, with decisions driven by the team — not by investors or a board.
• We thrive in a culture of passion, trust, and shared ownership; where transparency matters and egos don’t.

Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $263,750 - $320,000. Depending on your experience and level (whether you’re closer to mid-level or principal), your offer may land above or below that range. We don’t just look at years on a résumé — we think about the impact you can have on the team and the game. Of course, compensation at Bonfire goes beyond salary. Every new teammate receives equity, plus a full benefits package and some extra perks to make work (and life) better.