Principal Research Engineer

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

The Special Projects team at Epic is responsible for executing high-impact projects that push the envelope to define the future of real-time graphics and gaming technology (The Matrix Awakens, Lumen in the Land of Nanite). In collaboration with the Unreal Engine team, we strive to put our technology and knowledge into the hands of users, empowering developers and content creators with the most powerful suite of real-time tools in the world.

The Epic Games Research & Development team is searching for an experienced hands-on Research Programmer. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for digital humans and experience with machine learning and animation tech. Epic Games creates and deploys advanced computer-vision, computer-graphics and machine learning technologies to transform the production and consumption of digital media. This includes physics based simulation, ML based character animation, neural and inverse rendering and automated generative animation techniques among others.

At Epic R&D we research, develop and deploy such technologies for Epic’s Unreal Engine and other Epic Products.

• Research and prototype machine learning and generative approaches for game content creation
• Work with development programmers and product programmers to deploy and productize novel technology results in Epic products
• Engage with the scientific community, contribute domain knowledge and advice in support of strategically relevant R&D efforts
• Investigate, develop novel ideas, and expand the boundaries of the state-of-the-art in research.
• Contribute deep expertise and actionable knowledge in collaboration with other researchers and programmers at Epic Games. Tech transfer will typically involve working with Research Programmers and/or Software Programmers to provide expert technical guidance and implementation
• Guide and mentor junior researchers and students in the internship program

• PhD degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Programming, or a related discipline
• Proven applied research impact in shipping titles
• Strong analytical and reasoning skills with an emphasis on innovative and practical solutions
• Excellent programming skills with a preference for experience with Python and C++
• Experience working in common ML frameworks such as PyTorch or Tensorflow, and rapid prototyping in Python
• In-depth knowledge in one or more of the following areas: real-time graphics, computer vision, machine learning, animation, large-language models, speech recognition, speech synthesis, linguistics, performance-capture, 3D reconstruction

This role is open to multiple locations across North America and Europe (including CA & WA).

The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren’t limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic’s generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs).

California Base Pay Range

$270,572 — $396,838 USD

Washington Base Pay Range

$245,975 — $360,763 USD

Epic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 years, we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually…