Technical Director

3 months ago

Port Melbourne, Australia Playside Studios Ltd Full time

Who is PlaySide?

PlaySide Studios is a dynamic and innovative company that employs individuals across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. As Australia's largest publicly listed independent video game developer, PlaySide is committed to delivering cutting-edge interactive experiences across mobile, VR, AR, and PC platforms. With a diverse portfolio of more than 60 titles and collaborations with industry giants like Netflix and Activision Blizzard, working at PlaySide is not just a job but an opportunity to be part of innovating the gaming industry.

Overview

As our Technical Director, you are responsible for the entire Engineering Department of the studio and work alongside the General Managers & other Directors in setting the technical excellence bar for the studio. We’re looking for an individual that has engineering leadership skills and will help shape our technical vision, ensuring that our engineering practices align with our goals of innovation, scalability, and delivering high-quality player experiences.

The ideal candidate for us is a natural problem solver, ready to roll up their sleeves and dive in when needed to drive success. They are also equipped with exceptional communication skills and experience in managing stakeholders at the leadership level and above; someone with a knack for tackling complex technical & business challenges.

If you enjoy working in a scaling environment where growth opportunities abound then this is a great opportunity to carve your own niche.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute a long-term technical strategy aligned with the studio's product roadmap and growth plans.
  • Oversee current projects to meet development schedules, budgets, resources, and technical quality targets.
  • Collaborate with other disciplines to identify technical requirements and develop solutions based on the game's vision.
  • Ensure clear communication of technical goals across all levels of the organization.
  • Serve as the primary operational contact, working with key external partners like studio Tech, Tools, Ops, and Platform teams.
  • Manage and communicate with internal stakeholders, including C-Suite level.
  • Oversee recruitment, career development, and craft leadership for the engineering team.
  • Establish engineering best practices to achieve project goals.
  • Foster a collaborative culture, encouraging innovation and professional growth within the engineering team.
  • Share knowledge internally, apply lessons from other teams, and align with the broader PlaySide technology portfolio.
  • Identify process improvements for efficiency, cost, and quality across teams.
  • Evaluate and recommend third-party technologies and tools for game development.
  • Stay updated on current trends and technologies in game development.

What You Bring to The Table

  • Experience as a Technical Director or Senior Lead Programmer managing large teams.
  • Successfully shipped multiple games across various platforms in lead/director roles.
  • Strong background in software development and engineering management.
  • Expertise in C#/C++, data structures, performance optimization, and multi-threaded programming.
  • In-depth knowledge of software design practices, including modular and event-driven architecture, design patterns, and object-oriented design.
  • Familiar with modern game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity, custom) and industry-standard tools like Git, TeamCity, and Perforce.
  • Experienced with Agile/Scrum methodologies, connecting iterative processes with high-level goals.
  • Experience or knowledge in PC, Console, VR, and Mobile game development.

Bonus Points

  • Basic understanding and appreciation of other disciplines, especially game design.
  • Experience with projects involving multiple internal/external partners and established franchises, requiring close collaboration with publishers.
  • Experience with cloud services, online infrastructure, and multiplayer game development.
  • Experienced in technical evangelism through talks, conferences, or open-source contributions.
  • Strong passion for video games and the online experience.

What We Offer Here at PlaySide

  • Playdays - an additional 5 paid days off per year to do something you love.
  • Incredible studios based in gorgeous Port Melbourne, right next to the city and many public transport options.
  • Industry-leading Parental Leave benefits.
  • Relocation Assistance.
  • Employee Assistance Program to support mental well-being.
  • Mentoring opportunities to help you grow in your role.
  • Half-price state-of-the-art Gym access (right next door) - you can wear your free PlaySide swag
  • Social events including Games night, karaoke nights, Movie Nights (We hire out the cinema), group activities, and food trucks Just as some examples

PlaySide is the largest independent games studio in Australia. Founded in 2011, we’re a team with big ideas and the skills to deliver with our incredible team. In our history, we have released over 50+ titles across Mobile, PC, VR, AR, and now moving into console. We take so much pride in each and every project we create. Playside is a place of endless opportunity, where we focus on keeping the fun in game development. We offer an amazingly professional, playful and supportive working environment. If you thrive on challenges and want to work on a diverse range of projects for a forward-thinking company, we want to hear from you.

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