Are you a senior programmer looking for your first leadership position, or an engineering lead who wants to manage a small team and also make direct code contributions? Insomniac Games is looking for a Lead Programmer for a team working on AI and combat systems for an exciting AAA game. This job is a blend of direct technical contribution and team management, balancing programming work in the combat/AI realm with managing, mentoring, and caring for the well-being of your team members. You don't have to have any people management experience to apply (we will teach you!) but you should have displayed technical leadership in some form. Want to learn more? Keep reading!
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
Lead a small team of programmers
Assist in developing the vision, architectural design, and planning for Insomniac's current and future gameplay systems
Write code in C++ but not taking priority over non-technical duties
Provide mentorship, performance evaluation, and career development support and opportunities for members of the team
Plan, organize, monitor, and evaluate team's work
Provide technical and creative direction and feedback to team.
Work closely with other departments such as Design, Creative, and Project Management to:
Provide technical, scheduling, and creative feedback on the game your team is supporting
Help develop project goals
Communicate technical requirements and limitations
Ensure a balanced team schedule that meets project goals in a timely manner
Participate in the hiring and onboarding of new employees
Collaborate with Insomniac studio leadership to support studio cultural values and champion a positive work environment
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This individual will supervise a team of employees across multiple studio locations and is responsible for carrying out duties in accordance with the studio's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include but are not limited to interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Education and/or Experience:
Seven to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
Strong skills in C++ and 3D math
Ability to provide vision and architecture for game systems
Strong game design sensibilities and interest in creating a great player experience
Interest in people management/developing leadership skills, with a particular focus on employee wellbeing
Other Skills:
Experience working on gameplay systems in AAA games is a plus
Experience scheduling, scoping, and/or distributing technical work a plus