Founding Engineer (Full-stack C++ / Game Engine) at Nitrode (W25) $100K - $160K • 1.00% - 3.00% AI game development engine & platform San Francisco, CA, US Full-time Will sponsor 1+ years About Nitrode Nitrode is an AI game development engine designed to transform your gaming experience. Whether you're an aspiring game developer or a passionate gamer, Nitrode empowers you to effortlessly build, launch, and play your favorite games. Leveraging AI, Nitrode streamlines the game creation and launching process, allowing creators to focus on their vision without getting bogged down by mechanics or technical complexities. About the role About Us Nitrode is building an AI-powered game engine and platform that supercharges developers into expert game developers. Designed to break traditional timelines, Nitrode enables developers to create complex, fully functional games in just two days — a process that once took months or even years. We’re pushing the boundaries of game development, and the next generation of top-tier games will emerge from Nitrode. Join us to revolutionize the gaming industry. Feel free to learn more about Nitrode on our Launch YC page: https://www.ycombinator.com/launches/MiJ-nitrode-ai-assisted-game-development-platform The Role We’re looking for a phenomenal full-stack engineer to join our team as a founding engineer. As a founding engineer, you’ll work side-by-side with the founding team to reshape the foundations of how games are made. Your responsibilities will span the engine’s logic and performance systems, all the way up to building full-stack tools and AI agents that automate traditionally complex game development workflows. You’ll help design and modify core engine logic, build automation layers for gameplay and world generation, and create intuitive interfaces for developers and creators. If you enjoy working across the stack — and you’re energized by tight feedback loops, fast iteration, and big technical challenges — this role is for you. This role is a unique opportunity to redefine the gaming landscape and break the archaic industry and democratize the entire gaming ecosystem - if this interests you, we would love to hear from you. Key Responsibilities: Core systems development for our game engine Work closely with AI tools to define the foundational architecture and UI/UX Optimize and debug a large, multithreaded C++ codebase Build across multiple platforms (desktop, web) Prototype rapidly and ship features that enable creators to go from idea to game in hours What we’re looking for: Deep experience working in large, multithreaded C++ codebases Familiarity with multi-platform engines like Unity, Unreal, or in-house tools Shipped multiple games or real-time interactive applications (with an understanding of full development lifecycles) Experience using Unity, Unreal, or Godot for game or commercial software development A passion for creative tooling, procedural systems, or the future of generative content Startup energy: you’re scrappy, adaptable, and excited to build from 0 to 1 Major Bonus Points: Senior experience with game design Contributions to open-source game tools or engines Why Join Now? This is a rare opportunity to help define the core architecture of a new game engine — at a moment when AI is rewriting what’s possible. As a founding engineer, you’ll shape not just the product, but the company and the entire industry as a result. You’ll have massive ownership, and creative input in something that will redefine game development forever. If you have any questions, email us at recruiting (at) nitrode.com. Think this job isn’t for you, but you know someone who’ll be the perfect fit? We’re doing a $3K referral bonus if you find our next hire. Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/JgLSLSgYc1QtYmGv7 Technology Capable of developing and debugging code written in a large multithreaded C# or C++ codebase, using a multi-platform engine (e.g. Unity, Unreal, in-house). Experience in shipping multiple games or other real-time interactive applications, including a proven understanding of software development lifecycles. Experience using Unity, Unreal, or Godot to develop games or commercial software.