--- title: 'Gameplay Engineer at Echtra' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/gameplay-engineer-echtra-san-francisco-gwcszmgfmf7e' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-07' --- # Gameplay Engineer at Echtra - **Company:** Echtra - **Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Employment:** full-time - **Posted:** 2021-01-14 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/echtra/68dbd930-a035-4c0e-9bc7-aeccc22e5aba ## Job description Gameplay Engineer Do you love programming? Does talking about game designs excite you? Do you enjoy making something engaging and magical happen on the screen? We're searching for a Gameplay Engineer to help us maintain Torchlight 3 and craft the future of Echtra.  We're a small game studio in San Francisco with a team of veteran game developers.  At Echtra, we value diversity and support work-life balance.  We have great benefits, an open vacation policy, and flexible schedules. As a Gameplay Engineer, you'll be expected to add features to existing gameplay systems. Each day, you will collaborate with other engineers, designers, and artists to add those special touches that make the game great. Requirements: You are familiar with C++ and have written some projects with it You have helped build some small game or game-like projects - in school or for fun Pluses: ## Experience working with Unreal Engine 4 ## Experience shipping software to the public A love and passion for gaming ## About Echtra ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Echtra Games is a San Francisco-based game studio founded by Diablo and Torchlight co-creator Max Schaefer, known for developing the Torchlight action-RPG series. - **Entity Type**: Private (Acquired by Zynga in 2021; Zynga is a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive) - **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Max Schaefer, Justin Miller ## Core Business - Primary industry: Computer Games / Video Game Development - Target customers: B2C (PC and console gamers) - Mission or purpose statement: To build an insanely fun and exciting world to play in, focusing on action role-playing games (ARPGs) with long-term content and cross-platform support. ## Products & Services - **[Torchlight III]**: A multiplayer action role-playing game, released for PC and consoles. Echtra developed and maintains this title. - **[Unannounced AAA Cross-Platform ARPG]**: As of mid-2022, the studio was beginning development on a AAA cross-platform ARPG (likely the project that was later cancelled or restructured). ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (acquired by Zynga in 2021 for an undisclosed amount within Zynga's broader strategy) - **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of approximately $9.1M (as of recent estimates, though this may reflect pre-closure operations) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company Zynga (acquired 2021), which itself is owned by Take-Two Interactive. Studio alumni come from Blizzard Entertainment, BioWare, Electronic Arts, and NCSOFT. - **Growth Signals**: The studio was closed by Zynga in June 2025, with the team reportedly failing to ship its planned original IP. As of August 2026, the company appears to be operating with about 5-11 employees, maintaining Torchlight III and listing 2 open positions (Gameplay Engineer and Senior Gameplay Engineer) on-site in San Francisco. This suggests a significant downsizing or restructuring rather than growth. ## Competitive Advantages - **Legendary pedigree**: Founded by Max Schaefer, co-creator of Diablo and Torchlight — two of the most influential ARPG franchises. - **Veteran team**: Core team includes developers who worked on Diablo, Torchlight, and other major Blizzard/EA titles. - **Unreal Engine expertise**: Uses Unreal Engine for heavy lifting, allowing focus on unique gameplay and world-building. - **Flexible remote-friendly culture**: Tools support remote work and flexible scheduling. ## Strategic Focus - **Current priority**: Maintaining Torchlight III and "crafting the future of Echtra" as a small, independent-feeling studio. - **Historical direction**: Originally aimed to be a cross-platform PC/console ARPG developer with long-term live-service content. The closure of the studio in 2025 by Zynga indicates a strategic pivot or downsizing. Current focus appears to be on sustaining the existing game and remaining operational as a small team. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Values individual ownership and creativity. Team members are trusted to take the lead on making the vision come true. - **Work environment**: On-site in San Francisco (SOMA district), with tools that support remote work and flexible scheduling. "Everyone takes the time they need for family and personal interests." - **Compensation & culture**: Glassdoor rating of 4.4/5.0 (3 reviews), with perfect 5.0 scores for Work-Life Balance and Compensation, and strong marks for Culture (4.2) and Career (4.4). - **Team size**: Extremely small (5-11 employees), offering high impact and ownership for each team member. - **Notable**: 100% of reviewers on Glassdoor would recommend the company to a friend. - **Current openings** (August 2026): Gameplay Engineer and Senior Gameplay Engineer — both on-site in San Francisco. ## Sources 1. [echtragames.com](https://echtragames.com/about) 2. [theorg.com](https://theorg.com/org/echtra-games) 3. [Glassdoor](https://www.glassdoor.ca/Overview/Working-at-Echtra-Games-EI_IE4197715.11,23.htm) 4. [jobera.com](https://jobera.com/employer/echtra/) 5. [PC Gamer](https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/torchlight-3-studio-echtra-games-acquired-by-zynga-in-2021-to-help-it-move-into-pc-and-console-gaming-is-being-closed-without-doing-that/) 6. [GamesIndustry.biz](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zynga-shuts-down-torchlight-dev-echtra-games) 7. [gamedeveloper.com](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/zynga-shutters-torchlight-iii-developer-echtra-games) ## Other roles at Echtra - [Senior Gameplay Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-gameplay-engineer-echtra-san-francisco-n7rwvptz0a41) — San Francisco, CA - [Gameplay Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/gameplay-engineer-2k-montreal-1y485m7w1x7k) — Montréal, Canada - [Gameplay Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/gameplay-engineer-cloud-chamber-montreal-jrfny03j6yg6) — Montréal, Canada - [Gameplay Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/gameplay-engineer-2k-novato-california-5nt0cn3bnze6) — Novato California, United States - [Gameplay Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/gameplay-engineer-cloud-chamber-novato-california-kcj1msph414e) — Novato California, United States - [Gameplay Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/gameplay-engineer-thatgamecompany-united-states-48b8ardpr3t8) — United States