IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Feature: The Epic Hiring Process

Posted March 11, 2010 by Chris Buffa

You don’t have to be a factory worker or in retail to know that the economy’s been terrible for a lot of people, especially those in the video game industry. Some of the best programmers and artists have found themselves newly unemployed, thanks to mergers and cutbacks. It’s so bad out there that no job’s safe, even if you’re on top.

Fortunately, there’s a Hammer of Dawn at the end of the Rift Worm tunnel. Epic Games, the company behind the critically acclaimed Gears of War franchise and the ubiquitous Unreal Engine middleware, has multiple positions to fill, providing you have the necessary skills. To get a better idea of what they’re looking for, we fired off a few interview questions to see what it takes to work for one of the most successful companies in the video game industry. Time to prep your resume.

IndustryGamers: What positions are you currently looking to fill?

Epic HR: We are currently looking to fill positions across multiple disciplines (Programming/Art/Design/Production) in multiple locations.  With offices in North Carolina, Utah, Poland and Asia we all ways have great employment opportunities to offer. 

Our current active needs by location are broken down below:

Epic Games, Cary North Carolina

• FX Artist
• UI Artist
• Mocap Animator
• Gameplay Programmer
• Engine Programmer
• Audio Programmer
• GUI/Tools Programmer
• Server Programmer
• Level Designer
• Senior Producer
• Marketing Manager
• Community Manager
• Tech Evangelist

Epic Games - Chair Entertainment, Utah

• Gameplay Programmer
• Level Designer
• Producer

Epic Games - People Can Fly, Warsaw Poland

• Art Director
• UI Artist
• Network Programmer
• Level Designer
• Mesher

IG: How would you describe the work culture of your company?

Epic HR: The environment is structured but casual.  Everyone is welcome to give input in the design process, and the best idea wins.  To be successful here you have to love games, have a strong work ethic, good communication skills and be able to give and receive constructive criticism.  Most importantly, you have to be passionate about what it is you do and be committed to putting out the best possible product every time. 

IG: What are some of the positive aspects of working for your company?

Epic HR: You get to go to work every day with some of the most talented people in the industry, who are dedicated to getting the job done right and make really cool games!  We work hard and enjoy the perks that come along with making AAA games.  We also work on the industry leading Unreal Engine and the code that our guys write is used in hundreds of games by thousands of developers!  Oh yeah, we also have great benefits, and the pay isn’t too shabby either. 

IG: What skills/body of course work do you look for from a future employee?

Epic HR: We look for candidates to be the top in their field.  Depending on what their area of expertise, the background can vary greatly.  We typically hire people who have prior industry experience and have exhibited that they are the best in the business at what they do.  We love people who have experience working with the Unreal Engine, but it isn’t mandatory.   

IG: What is the interview process like?  What helpful interview tips can you give prospective employees?

Epic HR: Our interview starts with a skills assessment.  If you do well on that, we move onto a phone interview or two and then invite you out to the studio to meet with the team.  While here, we will have you meet with as many people as possible within your discipline and the leads of the other disciplines.  We take adding a new member to the team very seriously and need a consensus before making an offer.  Every member of the team gets a say because it’s very important that everyone is comfortable and productive. 

 

Chris Buffa is the Editor-in-Chief of Modojo. You'll find him on his iPhone playing Tiny Wings, trying in vain to beat his sister's high score.