Principal Online Engineer

Lighthouse Games is a new AAA studio in Leamington Spa. We are defined by our pedigree of talent, and serious ambition to build a new best-in-class game. When you join us at Lighthouse, you will be able to create the best work of your career, in an environment that feels truly collaborative. You will learn from the best, and work alongside the future greats of the gaming industry.

As a Principal Online Engineer, you will provide technical leadership for the architecture, development, maintenance, and delivery of our online gameplay systems. You will define the technical direction for scalable, reliable, and high-quality multiplayer features, working closely with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to ensure our online technology supports the creative vision of the game.

You will take ownership of complex technical challenges, establish best practices, and drive improvements across our online services, networking, and development workflows. As a senior technical authority within the team, you will mentor engineers, influence wider project decisions, and help build a collaborative engineering culture focused on innovation, quality, and exceptional player experiences.

Key Duties Include:

• Define and drive the technical vision and architecture for online services, networking systems, and multiplayer features.
• Partner with game design, production, and other engineering disciplines to deliver engaging, scalable, and cohesive online experiences.
• Lead the optimisation of networking code and online systems to achieve exceptional performance, reliability, security, and scalability.
• Establish and champion engineering standards, technical best practices, and long-term strategies for the development of online features.
• Identify, evaluate, and resolve complex technical risks across the online services architecture, providing clear direction to the wider team.
• Mentor and support engineers while staying current with emerging technologies and industry developments that can enhance our online capabilities.

Requirements

• Extensive experience as an Online Engineer on AAA titles, including significant ownership of online gameplay systems, services, or multiplayer features.
• Expert knowledge of networking technologies and protocols, including client-server architectures, matchmaking, player data management, and distributed systems.
• Advanced programming skills in C++, with substantial experience developing within a game engine, preferably Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
• Strong experience designing and delivering scalable cloud-based solutions using platforms such as AWS or Azure.
• Exceptional architectural, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, with a proven record of resolving complex technical challenges.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence technical direction, align stakeholders, and mentor engineers across different levels.
• A deep passion for online and multiplayer gaming, supported by a strong understanding of player behaviour, service reliability, and long-term player experience.

Benefits

• 25 Days Holiday, plus 1 day for your birthday

• Studio Shutdown between Christmas and New Year
• Discretionary Bonus Scheme
• Private Pension Scheme
• Private Healthcare
• Health and Well-Being Benefits
• Dental Care
• Optical treatments
• Mental Health Support