Northrop Grumman solves some of the world’s hardest engineering problems. So we turned recruiting into one. We created Deviation.ai — a text-based, AI-assisted RPG designed to challenge even the most advanced minds. It looked like a video game, but was actually a recruitment tool. I wrote the trailer, which we produced using AI. We leaned into its uncanny limitations to create a dystopian tone that matched the game.
We launched with a stealth phase with pizza parties at top engineering schools (Virginia Tech, Berkeley, Embry-Riddle). Inside each box was a math problem Solve it, and you get the IP address to the game. LLMs couldn’t crack it. Very few students could either—until a small group from Embry-Riddle finally got in.
Next, we expanded with a Reddit takeover. Our :15 trailer and static ads drove players to the game—without revealing Northrop Grumman as the source.
Once inside, it speaks for itself. Without deep engineering expertise, you don’t get far. But if you could solve it, you were exactly who they were looking for.
Game play:
