Position: Game Engine Software Engineer
Location:
Los Angeles Metro (Glendale, CA) - with occasional travel as needed
About Us
Familiar Machines & Magic, Inc. (FM&M) is using robotics and AI to pioneer an exciting new category of home robots in the health and wellness space with a significant focus on human-robot interaction. Founded by industry leaders from iRobot, Disney, and Amazon and fully-funded by leading Venture Capitalist, we are currently in stealth mode.
We are assembling a world-class team of roboticists, engineers, and designers to bring our vision to life at scale. Familiar Machines & Magic is building a “World Cup Team” of high-performers, grounded in our Culture Principles, including trust, respect, kindness, candor, pragmatic optimism, and having fun together.
Position Overview
We are seeking a Game Engine Software Engineer with strong maker inclinations to drive development across immersive VR/AR interfaces, robotic mockups, and simulation tools. This role blends real-world prototyping with digital systems, requiring hands-on ingenuity, strong software engineering fundamentals, and experience with modern game-engine workflows.
The right candidate is passionate about innovation, execution, and culture-forward workplaces and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
What You’ll Do
- Develop and maintain real-time game engine components supporting robotic mockups, interactive simulations, and mixed-reality workflows.
- Quickly build, adjust, and maintain custom editing tools that allow the creation of bespoke robotic character motions in physical and virtual spaces.
- Build VR/AR interfaces for controlling or visualizing robotic and interactive experiences.
- Prototype quickly: interface with sensors, microcontrollers, and mechanical systems as needed to validate concepts.
- Become familiar with existing motor firmware, and integrate new drivers in collaboration with firmware engineers as actuation choices are updated.
- Keep a tidy, version-controlled codebase clean and documented.
What You’ll Have
What You’ll Need to Succeed
- Demonstrated “maker” mindset: comfortable with hardware prototypes, physical mockups, sensors, microcontrollers, quick iteration, and building tools that bridge digital and physical systems
- Ability to rapidly prototype, debug, and iterate across mixed environments (engine, firmware, simulation, VR/AR front ends)
- Ability to operate in a dynamic environment with complex, multidisciplinary inputs
- Clear and persuasive communication skills
- Skilled at working across diverse disciplines and with external experts, from scientists to animators
- Demonstrate passion for exploring new ideas and technologies and innovating in the non-human companionship space
Please Note: We have often hired those that do not meet the exact requirements but that we found to be a great culture fit and have the relevant experience to be successful in the role. Please consider applying if this is you.
Familiar Machines & Magic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.
