David Espada
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David Espada

Unreal Engine Programmer · C++

Unreal Engine C++ programmer with 5+ years shipping on PC, PS5 and Xbox. Led the full C++ architecture of The Occultist from a blank project to a three-platform release with Daedalic Entertainment. Currently Senior Gameplay Programmer at GRIP Studios.

See shipped work LinkedIn Resume
  • GRIP StudiosSenior Gameplay Programmer · AAA multiplayer · 2025–present
  • The OccultistLead Programmer · Daedalic · shipped Apr 2026 · PC, PS5, Xbox
  • Epic MegaJam 2023Winner · sole programmer
  • Spain · RemoteOpen to relocation

Work

Shipped titles and selected projects.

AAA GRIP Studios · Full-time · 2025 — Present · Remote

Unannounced AAA Multiplayer

Senior Gameplay Programmer

Unreal Engine C++ core gameplay systems and multiplayer replication architecture on an unannounced AAA title in full production. Cross-team feature ownership. Details under NDA.

UE5C++ MultiplayerReplication
Studio site
AA Shipped Apr 8, 2026 · PC · PS5 · Xbox Series X/S

The Occultist

Lead Programmer · Daloar Studios · Daedalic Entertainment

First-person narrative horror. Lead engineer from blank project to ship: full GAS architecture, 3Cs, CommonUI, tech animation and locomotion. Ported to PS5 and Xbox devkits, certification prep. Hired and mentored junior programmers. Voiced by Doug Cockle (Geralt, The Witcher).

Devcom 2023 Blockbuster Award · Best Indie — FreakCon Málaga 2022 · Gamescom 2024

UE5GAS 3CsCommonUIConsoleLead
Website Steam Trailer
Jam 2023 · Epic MegaJam — Winner

The Yellow Robot

Sole programmer

Winning entry of Epic MegaJam 2023. Sole programmer. Featured in Epic Games' official announcement.

UE5Sole programmer
itch.io Video
VR 2020–2021 · FrameOver · Quest 2

VR Standalone

VR Programmer

VR experience and interactive prototype for Oculus Quest 2. Full interaction system built from scratch — UI navigation, SDK integration — plus Android profiling to hold stable FPS on-device.

VRUE4Quest 2
Indie Ongoing · Solo

Nodine

Solo project

Ongoing solo project with public devlogs on itch.io.

itch.io
Indie 2020 · PrimerFrame — Diploma project

C.I.E.V

Sole programmer

Diploma final project. Sole programmer: base systems, player, puzzles, all UI.

itch.io Video
Jam 2019 · #1 on itch.io

Kibus

Solo

Solo horror jam game. Reached #1 on itch.io and held the spot for several days.

itch.io
Jam 2019 · Game jam

Syzygy

Solo

Solo jam project. Neon wireframe runner.

itch.io

About

Unreal Engine C++ programmer with 5+ years of professional experience on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Currently Senior Gameplay Programmer at GRIP Studios on an unannounced AAA multiplayer title.

Previously Lead Programmer on The Occultist (Daloar Studios, published by Daedalic Entertainment) — full C++ architecture from a blank project to a three-platform release in April 2026.

Side projects include an Epic MegaJam 2023 win as sole programmer and Kibus, a #1 itch.io release.

Native Spanish · Professional English · dlespada.itch.io

Skills

Software & Languages

Unreal Engine 5 / 4 · Unreal Engine C++ · Blueprints · Python · Perforce · Git

Gameplay

GAS · 3Cs · CommonUI · Slate UI · Behavior Trees · EQS · Anim Programming · Multiplayer

Platforms

PS5 devkit · Xbox Series X/S devkit · Quest 2 / VR · Android profiling

Leadership

Mentoring · Technical interviewing · Cross-discipline feature ownership

Experience

  1. Apr 2025 — Present

    Senior Gameplay Programmer · GRIP Studios

    Prague, Czechia · Remote · UE5 · Unreal Engine C++

    • Unannounced AAA multiplayer title in full production (NDA)
    • Unreal Engine C++ core gameplay systems and multiplayer replication architecture
    • Cross-team feature ownership
  2. Aug 2021 — 2025

    Lead Programmer · Daloar Studios (formerly Pentakill) — The Occultist

    AA UE5 narrative horror · Published by Daedalic Entertainment · Shipped Apr 8, 2026

    • Lead engineer — PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
    • Designed and shipped the full GAS architecture; owned all 3Cs
    • CommonUI integration; tech animation and locomotion systems
    • PS5 and Xbox devkit porting; certification preparation
    • Hired and mentored junior programmers; ran technical interviews
    • Devcom 2023 Blockbuster Award · Best Indie — FreakCon Málaga 2022 · Gamescom 2024
  3. Oct 2020 — 2021

    VR Programmer · FrameOver

    • VR experience and interactive prototype for Oculus Quest 2
    • Full VR interaction system from scratch: UI navigation, SDK integration
    • Android profiling to hit stable FPS targets on-device
  4. 2019 — 2020

    Diploma in Game Development · PrimerFrame

    Programming, animation, 3D art. Final project C.I.E.V as sole programmer.

  5. 2018 —

    Indie & game jams

    Epic MegaJam 2023 winner — The Yellow Robot (sole programmer). Kibus — #1 on itch.io. Plus Syzygy, Nodine and others.

Get in touch

Open to Senior Gameplay / Unreal Engine C++ roles. Based in Spain — remote or relocation.

davidlespada@gmail.com LinkedIn Resume