Senior Creative Gameplay Engineer, Apple Arcade

Senior Creative Gameplay Engineer, Apple Arcade

Cupertino, California, United States

Marketing

Role Number: 200613306

Apple Arcade is redefining the future of games by offering players of all ages a growing collection of award-winning titles with no ads, no in-app purchases, and a commitment to quality, creativity, and fun. At the heart of this vision is Sneaky Sasquatch, one of Arcade's most beloved originals. To help define the future for this celebrated game, Apple is building a team to expand the creative boundaries of Sneaky Sasquatch, to imagine and build entirely new adventures, while introducing the magic of shared, connected gameplay. This is an opportunity to join a focused, creatively-driven team to develop new content and features that will deliver magical experiences to millions of players. You will work directly alongside the original creators, shaping the future of a renowned IP and helping to establish a culture of creative and technical excellence from the ground up.

As a Senior Creative Gameplay Engineer, you will contribute creative vision and technical expertise to the Sneaky Sasquatch team, creating innovative new gameplay experiences for millions of players around the world. You will:

• Drive the creative vision for new gameplay by designing, prototyping, and shipping innovative and expressive core mechanics and systems.
• Own major gameplay features from initial concept and paper design, through rapid iteration and playtesting, to final polished implementation in Unity.
• Champion new ideas for player activities, character abilities, and emergent systems that deepen the humor, charm, and heart of the Sneaky Sasquatch universe.
• Architect robust, scalable, and designer-friendly gameplay frameworks that empower the team to build new content and experiences efficiently.
• Help define and maintain the high creative and technical bar for Apple's internal game development, acting as a key stakeholder in game feel and player experience.
• Communicate clearly and effectively across teams to ensure alignment and momentum.
• Be a part of a uniquely small and focused internal team at Apple, where general programming skills are deeply valued with a focus on creative gameplay implementation. Work alongside the creators of Sneaky Sasquatch to define what it means for Apple to make games. This role offers the chance to create playful, emotionally resonant, and connected experiences for millions of players around the world.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in game development, with a portfolio demonstrating exceptional creative and technical ownership on multiple shipped titles. This includes deep expertise in Unity and C#, with proven mastery of building complex gameplay systems from the ground up.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A proven ability to "find the fun" through rapid prototyping and iteration. Your portfolio should show us how you've turned a rough idea into a polished, delightful experience.
• A deep understanding of gameplay systems design. You think in terms of scalable frameworks, not just one-off features.
• A highly self-directed and resourceful attitude, comfortable navigating the ambiguity of the creative process.
• Excellent communication skills and a passion for collaborative, team-oriented problem-solving.
• Experience in a "technical design" or similar hybrid role where you were responsible for both the design and implementation of core gameplay.
• Experience shipping on Apple platforms (iOS, tvOS, macOS, visionOS).
• Deep familiarity with a wide range of game genres, with strong, well-reasoned opinions on game feel, pacing, and player motivation.
• A genuine love for Sneaky Sasquatch and a passion for creating heartfelt, player-centered experiences.

Pay & Benefits:

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $212,000 and $318,400, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.