Strategy Game Development Total War style [Urgent]

We are a fast-growing, independent game development studio dedicated to creating immersive strategy experiences for PC and next-generation platforms. Inspired by the Total War series, our focus is on combining large-scale tactical combat with detailed world-building and deep systems-driven gameplay. As part of our team, you will directly impact the creative direction of our games and work closely with passionate developers, designers, and artists. We are currently developing our flagship title, a grand strategy game blending real-time battles and complex campaign mechanics. We are seeking a Lead Technical Programmer to design and build the foundation for this ambitious project, specifically engineering a battle system capable of supporting thousands of units using Unreal Engine 5. You will develop scalable unit handling, tactical combat layers, and real-time to turn-based integration. Ideal candidates will have expertise in Unreal Engine (C++), data-oriented design, and a background in large-scale RTS or grand strategy game mechanics.

Budget range:
Major project ($100,000+ USD)

Examples:
https://www.totalwar.com/

Who are you, and what do you do?
We are a fast-growing, independent game development studio focused on creating deep, immersive strategy experiences for PC and next-generation platforms. Inspired by genre-defining titles like Total War, we combine large-scale tactical combat with rich world-building, meaningful decision-making, and systems-driven gameplay that rewards creativity and mastery. As a young studio, we move quickly, think boldly, and value people who take ownership of their craft. Our team is built around passionate developers, designers, and artists who care deeply about historical authenticity, emergent gameplay, and pushing the boundaries of what strategy games can be. We are currently developing our flagship title — a large-scale strategy game that blends real-time battles with complex campaign systems, where every decision shapes the world and no two playthroughs are the same. Working with us means: * Having a direct impact on the creative direction of our games

• Collaborating in a flat, transparent team structure
• Contributing to ambitious projects from an early stage
• Exploring new ideas without the constraints of traditional AAA pipelines We’re looking for individuals who are not just technically strong, but who understand what makes strategy games compelling, from AI behavior and balancing to player psychology and long-term engagement. If you’re passionate about building the next generation of strategy games and want to grow with a studio that values innovation, ownership, and quality, we’d love to hear from you.

In what capacity are you hiring?
My company

Where are you in the hiring process?
I’m ready to make a paid hire

What type of work is this?
Full-time position (Contract)

What experience level is needed?:
Expert