Epic Games is known as the creator of the video games Fortnite, Infinity Blade, and Gears of War. The video game developer also brought us Unreal Engine, a free game engine that allows us to play games such as Among Us. This impressive string of successes has led developers and animators everywhere to explore how to get a job at Epic Games.
Jobs at Epic Games are appealing to anyone who loves video games, and the Epic Games careers there are to choose from span many categories, including art, engineering, production, design, publishing, and business operations. If you’re one of the many people trying to solve the puzzle of how to work for Epic Games, look no further than this guide.
Epic Games: Company Background
Epic Games was founded as Potomac Computer Systems by Tim Sweeney in 1991. At the time, Sweeney was employed as a mechanical engineer, but he was also developing video games on the side. From those modest beginnings, Epic Games has grown into the video game, software development, and publishing giant we know today.
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, Epic Games’ biggest claim to fame is Unreal Engine, the world’s most open and advanced real-time 3D video game platform. Unreal Engine has given designers the freedom to produce original gaming content and create immersive experiences and interactive virtual worlds, including the massively popular Fortnite.
As a publishing platform, Epic is cheaper than competitors like Steam, taking only a 12 percent cut of profits. Bolstered by its openness and the versatility of its tools, Epic Games has secured its place as one of the most successful gaming companies. As of April 2022, Epic Games had an equity valuation of $31.5 billion according to a news release.
How to Get a Job at Epic Games
The best way to get a job at Epic Games is to build a strong technical resume. If you are applying to work for Epic Games in a more artistic capacity, you should submit a portfolio along with your resume to showcase your skills. No two jobs are the same, of course, but in this section, we focus on general guidelines for your application.
How Hard Is It to Land a Job at Epic Games?
Most jobs at Epic Games are hard to get due to the stiff competition. Hiring managers sift through countless resumes and portfolios, and they reject many applications within seconds. You can reduce the chances of your application being rejected by asking friends and family for feedback, applying for multiple positions, and applying for the same job several times.
How to Apply for a Job at Epic Games
You can apply for a job at Epic Games by first going to the Epic Games Careers page and using the search function to see which openings match your skills and experience. From there, you should research the company culture and find out what others have said about how to be a good Epic Games employee. You won’t get the job if you don’t fit in.
Many people seeking advice on how to work at Epic Games are most concerned about their portfolio. Epic Games recruiter Emily Gabrian noted several years ago that a strong portfolio may contain just six, high-quality examples of work. Review your work and include only your best projects.
Your resume should be clear and concise, and you should have a professional social media presence. You can add your resume and samples of your work to your LinkedIn profile, but only showcase content that will highlight your skills and experience. Your online presence could be the difference between getting an interview and having your application ignored.
Epic Games Application and Interview Process
Once you’ve filled out your Epic Games job application, the next phase of the hiring process is often an assessment test. This is usually for those applying for programming or game developer roles. The assessment will test your knowledge of C++ or one of the other programming languages for game development.
When it comes time for your Epic Games job interview, you will be subject to an initial screening with a recruiter, followed by a more formal hour-long interview. This interview will be both behavioral and technical. At Epic Games, the interview questions typically cover your knowledge, skills, experience, and why you want to work in the game industry.
What’s It Like to Work at Epic Games?
At Epic Games, you will be creating video games alongside people from all over the world. The company never settles for anything less than perfection and has built a work environment that will push you to become a better developer and innovator. Below are a few of the ways getting a job at Epic Games will change your life for the better.
Environment
Epic Games has created a fun and exciting workplace atmosphere focused on game development that even includes an adult slide. It is fast-paced and will keep you on your toes in terms of both creativity and technical execution.
Epic prides itself on nurturing a collaborative, welcoming, and artistic environment. This includes creating cutting-edge games and crafting game engine technology that allows others to create stunning interactive experiences.
Work Hours
Depending on your department at Epic Games, work hours are likely to be long, including nights and weekends. If you are involved in game development and updates, you will need to work extra hard to get products ready on time in order to beat out competitors.
Although it depends on the project, there is often less emphasis placed on work-life balance in creative technology roles. It is considered more important to help out your team members. If you are looking for a regular nine-to-five job, then perhaps the long working hours at Epic Games are not for you.
Compensation
The average Epic Games employee is well compensated for their work. According to PayScale, the average Epic Games salary is around $80,000 per year, plus an additional $7,000 in bonuses. Ultimately, how much an Epic Games employee makes comes down to job type, but overall, Epic Games’ compensation has a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Glassdoor.
The range of Epic Games employee salaries also varies within each job category. For a software engineer applying for Epic Games jobs, a salary anywhere from $59,000 to $106,000 could be offered to you, according to PayScale. On the lower end of the Epic Games salary scale are entry-level jobs, with senior positions on the upper end.
Epic Games Job Perks and Benefits
Along with a competitive salary and the perk of getting to play the latest produced games, Epic Games also offers a generous benefits package. Epic Games’ employee benefits typically include profit sharing, a 401(k) retirement plan, health insurance, life insurance, and holiday pay and bonuses.
Keep in mind, however, that benefits for Epic Games employees depend on where in the company you end up working. The best jobs at Epic Games, such as designers and producers, come with all of the benefits mentioned above, as well as a paid sabbatical every seven years, unlimited paid time off and sick days, and robust mental health services.
Epic Games Career Opportunities: Job Titles and Descriptions
Below is a snapshot of some of the top jobs at Epic Games. Whether you’re looking to launch your career at Epic Games or you’re angling for a senior position in the gaming industry, this list has something for you. For a complete list of current job openings, make sure to check out the Epic Games website.
Development Director (Fortnite)
- Average Salary: $269,000
- Level: Senior
- Required Experience: Eight years of experience in leadership and production; experience in contract negotiation, onboarding, offboarding, and performance reviews
This position is for an experienced director for the Fortnite team. In this role, you’ll be in charge of resource allocation across the entire Fortnite operation. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong interpersonal and teamwork skills. The goal is to make sure that new Fortnite updates are developed and released on schedule without going over budget.
DevOps Engineer
- Average Salary: $164,208
- Level: Mid-level
- Required Experience: Knowledge of Go, Python, and Shell; experience with AWS, cloud infrastructure, and Kubernetes
At Epic Games, jobs in software engineering are plentiful, and this DevOps position is an example of a high-impact engineering role. This job involves fleshing out Epic Games’ real-world infrastructure, which serves hundreds of developers and millions of players. You will work with Kubernetes and AWS to create a developer-friendly cloud platform.
Marketing Operations Manager
- Average Salary: $136,422
- Level: Mid-level
- Required Experience: Advanced experience with gaming and social media; strong written and verbal communication skills; excellent project management skills
There are also careers at Epic Games for marketers, without whom no game would ever see the light of day. The marketing operations manager’s job is to tell the story of Epic Games through the games available in the Epic Games store. You will need to have experience in marketing strategy and be able to engage with a game’s communities on various platforms.
FX Artist
- Average Salary: $93,185
- Level: Mid-level
- Required Experience: Strong eye for timing, animation, and motion of real-world objects; ability in secondary areas like animation, modeling, skinning, or lighting
This position is for an FX artist who wants to work on the ever-evolving Fortnite. You will need to have a strong sense of dramatic effects and be able to recreate them in a real-time particle editor. For this role, the company is looking for a self-motivated team player. You will also need a technical understanding of materials and programming logic.
Animation Programmer Intern
- Average Salary: $59,488
- Level: Intern
- Required Experience: Strong C++ knowledge and math skills; experience with low-level animation systems and physics-based IK systems; awareness of exposure, graphics, tools, networking, memory handling, and script compilers
This Epic Games animation internship gives interns the opportunity to work on challenging projects, from Unreal Engine updates to Fortnite character animation. As an intern, you will be paired with a mentor who will show you the ins and outs of collaborating with a large animation team. To be offered this position, you will need to know how to code a game.
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Educational Game Design Intern
- Average Salary: $59,488
- Level: Intern
- Required Experience: Passion for game design, deep understanding of video games, familiarity with the game you will be interning with
Epic Games’ internship jobs also include an opportunity for a design intern. You’ll work alongside design experts to actively contribute to the title you are working on. You will be part of a small, collaborative team and will need to find solutions to improve a game. The internship also involves system design, monetization, and user-centered design.
Is Epic Games a Good Place to Work?
Epic Games is a great place to work for anyone who admires the company and its games. If you want to get the job, make sure you possess the required skills, have experience working on relevant projects, and make an effort to continuously improve your portfolio. This way, hiring managers will be sure to take notice of you and your application.
There are many viable paths to get a job at Epic Games, including development, animation, UX design, sound design, customer service, HR, and social media. Most of these come with excellent benefits, perks, and the potential for career growth. As far as the video game industry goes, Epic Games is as good as it gets for talented and creative people.
How to Get a Job at Epic Games FAQ
According to Statista, 3,746 people work at Epic Games as of 2022. This number refers to Epic Games’ global workforce, which includes employees who work not only in the United States but also in Canada, Europe, South Korea, and Japan. If the company continues hiring at its current rate, the number of Epic Games employees will exceed 4,500 by 2025.
How hard is it to get an internship at Epic Games?
Epic Games internships are relatively hard to get. These competitive positions are limited to college students and recent graduates, and eligible candidates must have experience in the relevant technologies. Fortunately, Epic Games is always on the hunt for talented interns, so you can fill out an application right away and start preparing for the technical assessment.
Are there Epic Games remote jobs?
Yes, remote jobs at Epic Games are available from time to time. While most of its tech jobs require onsite collaboration, some positions include the option to work from home. Past examples of Epic Games’ remote work opportunities are game writer, 3D marketing artist, and tools programmer. To look for current openings, try the best job boards for remote work.
Can you work for Epic Games as a kid?
No, it is highly unusual for a kid to work for Epic Games. The youngest people that Epic Games tends to recruit are college-aged. If you’re still a minor and you’ve already learned how to use Unreal Engine, you can apply for an Epic MegaGrant to get funding for your dream gaming project. Grants range from $5,000 to $500,000.
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