Senior Unreal Engine Developer (Photorealistic Simulation & Rendering)

Senior Unreal Engine Developer (Photorealistic Simulation & Rendering)

Location: Berlin (Onsite)

About Us

We are a defense technology startup based in Berlin , building the next generation defense layer against aerial threats. Our systems combine robotics, sensing, embedded platforms, and real-time software to operate reliably in complex environments.

Operating in stealth mode, we emphasize engineering rigor, visual realism, and operational credibility. Our simulation environments are not built for entertainment — they are used to validate mission-critical robotic systems under realistic conditions.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Unreal Engine Developer with a strong focus on photorealistic simulation and advanced rendering in Unreal Engine 5.

In this role, you will design and implement high-fidelity digital environments that replicate complex urban and terrain scenarios with accurate lighting, materials, and environmental effects. Your work will directly support robotics testing and system validation, ensuring that simulated environments closely resemble real-world operational conditions.

This role focuses primarily on visual realism, rendering performance, and sensor-level simulation , while collaborating with robotics and simulation engineers for system integration.

This position requires onsite work in Berlin and eligibility for German security clearance.

Key Responsibilities

Photorealistic Environment Development

• Design and build high-fidelity environments in Unreal Engine 5 (Nanite, Lumen)
• Develop realistic urban, terrain, and infrastructure scenarios
• Implement advanced material systems and physically accurate lighting setups
• Create environmental dynamics such as weather, dust, heat haze, and atmospheric effects

Advanced Rendering & Visual Accuracy

• Develop and optimize real-time rendering pipelines
• Implement custom shaders for: IR camera simulation, Range-finder visualization, Sensor noise and optical distortion effects, Beam visualization and propagation effects
• Ensure physically plausible light interaction and surface behavior
• Balance photorealism with real-time performance constraints

Simulation Support & Integration

• Collaborate with robotics simulation engineers to align visual outputs with system requirements
• Support integration with external simulation frameworks (e.g., ROS2-based systems)
• Ensure consistent visual behavior during real-time and hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Optimize performance on workstation-grade GPUs while maintaining visual fidelity

Performance Optimization

• Profile GPU and CPU performance
• Optimize scene complexity, materials, lighting, and shader execution
• Maintain stable frame rates under complex scene conditions

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in Unreal Engine development (UE5 preferred)
• Strong C++ expertise within Unreal Engine (Blueprint-only experience is insufficient)
• Proven experience building photorealistic, high-fidelity real-time environments
• Deep understanding of: Real-time rendering pipelines, Lighting models and material systems, GPU optimization techniques
• Experience developing custom shaders and advanced visual effects
• Strong understanding of physically based rendering (PBR) principles
• Experience profiling and optimizing high-complexity scenes
• EU citizenship and eligibility for German security clearance
• Willingness to work fully onsite in Berlin

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in defense simulation, digital twin systems, or robotics simulation
• Experience with non-visible spectrum rendering (IR, thermal visualization)
• Experience implementing deterministic behavior in simulation environments
• Backgro