Skill Profile

Physics Engines

This skill defines expectations across roles and levels.

Game Development Game Programming

Roles

where this skill appears

Levels

structured growth path

Mandatory requirements

the other 10 optional

Game Development

Game Programming

2/22/2026

Choose your current level and compare expectations. The items below show what to cover to advance to the next level.

What is Expected at Each Level

The table shows how skill depth grows from Junior to Principal. Click a row to see details.

Role	Required	Description
Unity Developer		Understands PhysX in Unity: continuous vs discrete collision detection, physics materials (friction, bounciness). Configures Rigidbody parameters for realistic object behavior.
Unreal Engine Developer		Understands Chaos Physics engine in Unreal: rigid body simulation, collision detection, physics materials. Configures Physical Materials (friction, restitution) for realistic gameplay.

Role	Required	Description
Unity Developer		Works with advanced PhysX capabilities in Unity: joints (configurable, spring, hinge), cloth simulation, soft bodies. Configures physics solver for stability of complex constructions.
Unreal Engine Developer		Works with advanced Chaos features: Chaos Destruction, Cloth simulation, physics constraints (joints). Configures physics sub-stepping for simulation stability.

Role	Required	Description
Unity Developer		Designs physics systems with deep understanding of PhysX internals in Unity. Uses Unity Physics (DOTS) for scalable simulations. Implements custom physics behaviors through Physics callbacks and contact modification.
Unreal Engine Developer		Designs physics systems with deep understanding of Chaos internals. Modifies Chaos solver parameters for project-specific needs. Implements custom physics via Chaos interfaces.

Role	Required	Description
Unity Developer		Defines physics engine standards for Unity studio. Establishes physics performance guidelines. Evaluates and adopts physics middleware (Havok for Unity).
Unreal Engine Developer		Defines physics engine standards for the Unreal studio. Establishes Chaos configuration guidelines and performance budgets. Coordinates physics and gameplay teams.

Role	Required	Description
Unity Developer		Defines physics engine strategy at studio level. Evaluates new physics solutions. Shapes physics technology roadmap for Unity project portfolio.
Unreal Engine Developer		Defines physics technology strategy for the studio. Evaluates Chaos roadmap from Epic. Shapes physics innovation roadmap: destruction, fluids, soft bodies.

Junior 2 requirements

Unity Developer

Understands PhysX in Unity: continuous vs discrete collision detection, physics materials (friction, bounciness). Configures Rigidbody parameters for realistic object behavior.
Unreal Engine Developer

Understands Chaos Physics engine in Unreal: rigid body simulation, collision detection, physics materials. Configures Physical Materials (friction, restitution) for realistic gameplay.

Middle 2 requirements

Unity Developer

Works with advanced PhysX capabilities in Unity: joints (configurable, spring, hinge), cloth simulation, soft bodies. Configures physics solver for stability of complex constructions.
Unreal Engine Developer

Works with advanced Chaos features: Chaos Destruction, Cloth simulation, physics constraints (joints). Configures physics sub-stepping for simulation stability.

Senior 2 requirements

Unity Developer

Designs physics systems with deep understanding of PhysX internals in Unity. Uses Unity Physics (DOTS) for scalable simulations. Implements custom physics behaviors through Physics callbacks and contact modification.
Unreal Engine Developer

Designs physics systems with deep understanding of Chaos internals. Modifies Chaos solver parameters for project-specific needs. Implements custom physics via Chaos interfaces.

Lead / Staff 2 requirements

Unity Developer

Defines physics engine standards for Unity studio. Establishes physics performance guidelines. Evaluates and adopts physics middleware (Havok for Unity).
Unreal Engine Developer

Defines physics engine standards for the Unreal studio. Establishes Chaos configuration guidelines and performance budgets. Coordinates physics and gameplay teams.

Principal 2 requirements

Unity Developer

Defines physics engine strategy at studio level. Evaluates new physics solutions. Shapes physics technology roadmap for Unity project portfolio.
Unreal Engine Developer

Defines physics technology strategy for the studio. Evaluates Chaos roadmap from Epic. Shapes physics innovation roadmap: destruction, fluids, soft bodies.

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