AREA 35, Inc. is a Tokyo-based game development studio working primarily with Unreal Engine on console and PC titles. We are seeking an experienced gameplay-focused programmer with PlayStation development experience to support our ongoing productions.

About You:

This role is best suited for a strong generalist engineer who is comfortable working in gameplay and systems programming, but who can take ownership of PlayStation platform work when required. The successful candidate will be expected to move between gameplay implementation and platform optimization as project needs evolve.

About the Role:

On the platform side, this role focuses on implementing and optimizing PlayStation support for Unreal Engine 5–based titles, ensuring performance, stability, and compliance with Sony platform requirements. This includes hands-on profiling, frame time analysis, memory budgeting, and resolving real-world bottlenecks in production builds.

On the gameplay side, this role is expected to contribute meaningfully to core game systems, features, and implementation. We are looking for someone who can switch contexts effectively and deliver in both areas without a drop in quality.

This is not a lead role, but it does require ownership. We are looking for someone who can take clearly defined problems, execute, and deliver stable, production-ready results.

Location

This position is on-site at our Tokyo office. Applicants currently residing overseas will be considered but must be prepared to relocate to Japan.

Responsibilities:

• Implement gameplay systems, features, and supporting code in Unreal Engine 5.
• Take ownership of PlayStation platform support (PS4/PS5) when required.
• Optimize performance across CPU, GPU, memory, and streaming systems to meet platform targets.
• Perform hands-on profiling and debugging to identify bottlenecks and implement practical, measurable improvements.
• Work across gameplay, rendering, and platform layers to ensure systems run efficiently on console hardware.
• Integrate PlayStation platform services and SDK features (input systems, trophies, platform APIs, build configurations, etc.).
• Identify and resolve platform-specific bugs, performance issues, and certification risks.
• Support other programmers with platform-related debugging and optimization where needed.
• Maintain clear documentation and follow established technical workflows and standards.
• Collaborate with QA and production to resolve issues and ensure stable builds.
• Assist production with technical planning and risk identification related to console development (as needed).

Successful Candidate Working Style:

• Finishes what they start
• Communicates clearly and publicly
• Raises blockers early, does not silently stall
• Follows specs, does not freelance or overbuild
• Takes ownership of outcomes, not just code
• Participates in code review with clarity and accountability

Requirements:

• Strong C++ programming skills and experience working in Unreal Engine (Blueprint-only experience is not sufficient).
• Proven professional experience contributing to gameplay systems or features on shipped titles.
• Experience developing or shipping titles on PlayStation (PS4 and/or PS5).
• Strong experience with performance optimization, including profiling, memory management, and CPU/GPU optimization on console hardware.
• Ability to move between gameplay programming and platform-specific work effectively.
• Ability to debug issues independently before escalating.
• Familiarity with PlayStation SDKs, tools, and certification requirements.
• Experience working with multithreaded systems and performance-critical code.
• Ability to debug complex platform-specific issues and implement scalable solutions.
• Ability to take clearly defined tasks and deliver complete, production-ready implementations without handholding.
• Basic multiplayer awareness (replication, client/server responsibility).
• Understanding of async flows and data lifetime (no unsafe references, no crash-prone patterns).
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience (or 10 years working in the games industry in any capacity, required for Japanese visa sponsorship).
• Comfortable collaborating in multidisciplinary teams including designers, artists, and producers.

Pluses:

• Experience shipping gameplay-heavy systems or features in Unreal Engine.
• Experience shipping console titles on PlayStation (PS4/PS5).
• Experience optimizing rendering pipelines or systems-level performance.
• Experience with cross-platform development (PC and console).
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine platform abstraction layers and build systems.
• Prior experience working on shipped console titles.
• Interest in working within a Japanese game development environment.
• Willingness to learn Japanese or prior experience living or working in Japan or East Asia.

Remuneration & Work Conditions:

• Competitive base salary
• Twice yearly bonuses
• National Health Insurance and Pension support (社会保険) in Japan
• Japanese VISA sponsorship for foreign applicants
• Working hours under Japan’s Discretionary Labor System
• No regular overtime
• Paid holidays plus public holidays
• Paid commute while residing in Japan (by public transport)

Interested candidates should apply through email with their resume or CV, along with any relevant work samples or documentation of qualifications. During the interview process, applicants may be asked to submit sample materials via cloud storage. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that submitted materials do not violate NDAs or copyright agreements.