Electronic Arts (EA)
Senior Principal Research Engineer
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Description & Requirements
Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.
We are looking for a Senior Principal Research Engineer to join the Agents vector to architect the next generation of game AI in interactive entertainment. Our work centres on scaling agent technologies, including Reinforcement Learning, Large Language Models, and Imitation Learning into high-performance game systems. The team works directly in game engines to build scalable agent solutions that push the boundaries of real-time, interactive reasoning. You will translate complex engineering challenges into production-ready AI-first architectures, setting the technical standard for AI integration.
As a senior technical leader, in partnership with our Director of Research, you will provide the engineering strategy and deep architectural oversight necessary to deliver agent-based features at scale. We are looking for an expert who excels at solving systemic challenges, optimising for performance, and building technologies that support long-term development. You will partner with research leads, software engineers, and research scientists to ensure our agent technologies are reliable, and lead difference.
This is a hybrid remote/in-office role based in London (UK). You will report to the Agents Director of Research.
Responsibilities
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- Architect Complex Systems: Lead the design and implementation of large-scale agent systems, prioritising production robustness, real-time latency requirements, and integration into modern game engine architectures.
- Promote Engineering Excellence: Influence the technical roadmap for AI agents. This includes optimising algorithmic efficiency, managing technical debt, and building sustainable technologies for System 1 and System 2 AI-driven gameplay.
- Technical Leadership: Mentor engineers and researchers, setting architectural standards and driving engineering best practices for Agents across the team. Influence our broader technical culture through strategic project guidance.
Main Attributes
- Systems Theorist: A deep, systemic understanding of high-performance computing, optimization, and software architecture.
- Innovation: A focus on delivering high-performance, shippable systems over purely theoretical exercises.
- Strategic & Analytical: A critical mindset for evaluating large-scale system performance and anticipating infrastructure needs years in advance.
Qualifications
- Advanced Academic Background: A PhD in Computer Science or a related STEM field.
- Experience: 20+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with experience with shipping complex systems in gaming, high-scale distributed systems, or real-time AI.
- Deep Technical Expertise: Expert-level proficiency in C++ and Python, with a background in ML frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow) and low-level engine optimization.
- Practical Scalability: Expertise in architecting and deploying AI or ML agents into live products, managing the lifecycle from prototype to large-scale implementation.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
About Electronic Arts
We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location