Development Lead (Unreal Engine, C++)

Location: Chișinău, Moldova
Department: Development
Reports To: Tech Art Director
Employment Type: Full-Time, Hybrid

About bully! entertainment
bully! Entertainment is an international, award-winning creative agency with studios in Baltimore (USA), Chișinău (Moldova), and London (UK). We specialize in crafting extraordinary, immersive experiences that blend the digital and physical worlds, leveraging both emerging technologies and story-driven content. Our clients include Fortune 50 brands spanning entertainment, tech, consumer products, and pharma. Renowned for our world-class production, cutting-edge technology, and down-to-earth approach, we prioritize collaboration, innovation, and fun in everything we do.
We are seeking a Development Lead who will spearhead our Unreal Engine (UE) projects and steer the Development department to new heights. While Unreal is the primary focus (C++/Blueprints), having Unity/C# experience is a strong secondary asset.

Position Overview
As the Development Lead you will inspire, manage, and lead a high-performing team of creative developers, collaborating closely with cross-disciplinary groups, artists, designers, animators, project managers to deliver top-quality real-time immersive experiences and products for global brands.
This position requires both technical and leadership excellence. You will contribute to shaping the strategic direction of our development initiatives, champion best practices, and ensure that every deliverable meets the highest standard of functionality, stability, and performance.

You will be a part of a company that continuously keeps its focus on strengthening company culture and where every team member is encouraged to share company’s values:

• Integrity - Operate with accountability, responsibility, and always doing the right thing
• Communication - Have clear, consistent, and supportive communication
• Creativity - Solve problems and create things in a new or better way
• Innovation - Constantly explore emerging tech
• Craftsmanship - Be in constant pursuit of excellence

Key Responsibilities
Technical Direction & Best Practices

• Define and maintain best practices (Git flow, CI/CD, code reviews, development standards, documentation).
• Establish robust processes for software architecture, code quality, and performance optimization in UE projects.
• Ensure scalable, maintainable systems that deliver consistent, high-performance experiences across platforms.

Department & Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of developers working primarily in Unreal Engine (with Unity as a secondary focus).
• Build a cohesive environment that fosters innovation, open communication, and continuous growth.
• Oversee delegation of tasks, line management, and performance evaluations within the development department.

Project Oversight & Collaboration

• Collaborate with designers, artists, animators, and project/account managers to translate creative concepts into functional UE solutions.
• Work with the PM department to balance project budgets, timelines, and resources, ensuring efficient, predictable outcomes.
• Provide technical expertise and solutions to complex problems, serving as the go-to resource for UE development challenges.

Innovation & Emerging Technologies

• Drive implementation and integration of cutting-edge AR/VR/AI solutions, pushing the envelope of what’s possible in immersive tech.
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration and experimentation to discover new tools, workflows, and methods for continuous innovation.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies to keep the studio on the leading edge.

Business Development & Budget Management

• Actively engage in business development—identify new opportunities, build client/partner relationships, and support project growth.
• Manage and optimize budgets for current and future technology initiatives, ensuring resources are allocated effectively.

Full Software Lifecycle Contribution

• Contribute hands-on to designing, coding, debugging, and documenting real-time applications.
• Enhance existing features and add new systems, extending established code bases in UE.
• Ensure QA processes are in place for thorough testing, debugging, and refinement.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 7+ years of enterprise-level development experience in real-time applications, focusing on Unreal Engine (C++/Blueprints).
• Unity/C# proficiency is a plus but secondary to Unreal expertise.
• Strong software architecture skills and knowledge of design patterns relevant to game/dev environments.
• Proven experience in profiling and optimizing performance (GPU, CPU), plus refactoring complex code bases.
• Familiarity with version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines to maintain high code quality and efficient delivery.
• At least 2 years in a development team management or similar leadership role, with a proven track record of building and managing development teams.
• Proficient in spoken and written English.

Preferred Skills:

• Strong leadership and team management capabilities, including delegation and performance evaluation.
• Advanced organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and collaborative, with a passion for fostering a positive team culture.

Why join us?

• An international environment with opportunities to collaborate on global projects
• Competitive Pay
• Company Values Recognition Program and Referral Bonus
• Hybrid working mode
• Wellness Bonus to support a healthy work-life balance
• Professional Development Training to foster continuous learning
• Additional Medical Insurance (partially covered by the company)
• A centrally located office

How to Apply
Interested in joining the bully! Team?
Please send your CV and a brief note about why you’re excited to be our next Development Lead to: chisinaujobs@bullyentertainment.com

We look forward to connecting with candidates who are adequately equipped to excel in this role.
We look forward to hearing from you and exploring the potential of working together!