Head of Engineering

2 Days ago • 15-20 Years

About the job

Summary_{By Outscal}

Skydance Interactive seeks a Head of Engineering to lead technical teams and drive the development of cutting-edge AAA VR games. You'll develop long-term technology vision, manage technical infrastructure, and ensure high-quality game builds. Must-haves include 15+ years of game development experience, proven leadership in shipping games, expertise in Unreal Engine and VR games.

Skydance Interactive is seeking a strategic technical leader to develop our infrastructure and guide our technical teams in creating the cutting-edge AAA games. You will define and communicate a technical vision for Skydance Interactive, transforming it into actionable plans that drive our VR experience forward. With your EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE in leading gameplay engineering, platform, build and game engine teams, you will make informed decisions about adopting new tech stacks to enhance our capabilities.

As Head of Engineering, your focus will be on aligning technical initiatives with business goals, fostering an engineering culture that promotes innovation and efficiency. You will lead technical teams, ensuring their work supports project objectives while collaborating with creatives to streamline workflows and enhance technical literacy across the Studio.

As a member of the Studio’s Senior Leadership team, your role is to leverage your technical expertise to identify strategic solutions to complex challenges faced by the business. You know when to advocate for firm positions, when to seek compromise, and how to creatively solve problems to maximize product value and drive the Studio’s success.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement long-term technology vision and strategy for Skydance Interactive that will endure for future games.
Develop and execute a comprehensive technology roadmap to guide game development.
Articulate the Studio’s technology strategy, vision and goals.
Ensure Skydance Interactive’s technical infrastructure is scalable and reliable.
Oversee the technical architecture of the games being developed, ensuring they are scalable, secure and maintainable.
Ensure the delivery of stable, high-quality game builds.
Work closely with creative development teams to ensure the technology is appropriate for the game being developed.
Create and restructure high-level processes and documentation that facilitate technical excellence and efficiency.
Manage and lead various technical disciplines, ensuring alignment and performance.
Build and nurture high-performing technical teams.
Lead efforts to enhance technical skill and knowledge across the Studio through training initiatives.
Collaborate with key external partners.
Evaluate and manage relationships with tech vendors and partners.
Assess vendor performance.

Requirements

15+ years of professional experience in a game development environment, with 5+ years leading technical game development teams in shipping games from start to finish.
Ideal candidate has a VR games background.
Proven track record building a portfolio of high-quality games and experiences.
Proven proficiency in multiple programming languages and game engines, specifically with Unreal Engine. Familiar with build systems and platforms.
Demonstrated leadership experience as a senior leader, able to delegate and guide engineering managers and directors.
Able to bridge gap between technical and non-technical teams.
Interacts with top management to keep abreast of plans and strategies impacting the Studio’s roadmap.
Interacts with major decision makers to convince and influence business decisions.
Work with their Leads and Directors in translating Studio strategies into operational plans for the team from both a technical and team management perspective.
Able to guide development, finding ways to innovate and push into new areas of game development, while ensuring project is delivered on time and under budget.
Able to provide feedback that empowers/inspires teams to produce their best work and cultivate conditions necessary for team success.
Experienced in taking an active role in resource management, process optimization, risk/crisis management and change management.

The salary range for this position in Los Angeles is $300,000 – $375,000. The salary offered may vary based on the candidate’s location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors. The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc.

We realize that skills and expertise can come from many different experiences and paths, and we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements as written in the job description.

$300.0K - $375.0K/yr (Outscal est.)

$337.5K/yr avg.

Santa Monica, California, United States

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About The Company

skydance

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About Skydance Media

Skydance is a diversified media company founded by David Ellison in 2010 to create high quality, event-level entertainment for global audiences. The Company brings to life stories of immersive worlds across its feature film, television, and interactive platforms. Its feature films include Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Annihilation, LIFE, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Star Trek Beyond, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Terminator Genisys, World War Z, Star Trek Into Darkness, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Jack Reacher, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and True Grit. Skydance’s upcoming film releases include Top Gun: Maverick, Gemini Man, The Old Guard, 6 Underground and the nwe untitled Terminator film. In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance Television launched in 2013. Its current slate includes Emmy-nominated Grace and Frankie on Netflix, Altered Carbon on Netflix, Jack Ryan on Amazon, and Condor on AT&T Audience Network. Skydance Interactive launched in 2016 to create and publish original and IP-based virtual reality experiences and video games. Skydance Interactive recently debuted its first original title – Archangel, a story-driven VR shooter.

About Skydance Interactive

Skydance Interactive creates and publishes original and IP-based virtual reality games. The division of Skydance Media was launched in 2016 through the acquisition of The Workshop Entertainment. Skydance Interactive’s first VR offering is Archangel, launched on July 18th 2017. Skydance Interactive in 2017 partnered with Skybound Entertainment to develop a number of original virtual reality video games based on the expansive world of The Walking Dead universe. The Walking Dead VR game will be the inaugural co-developed title from both companies. The studio is located in Marina del Rey, CA.

About Animation

In 2017, Skydance formed an animation division to develop and produce a slate of high-end feature films and television series in partnership with Spain’s Ilion Animation Studios. Skydance’s first three animated features are Luck, Split (working title), and Powerless (working title). Luck, directed by Alessandro Carloni (Kung Fu Panda 3) and written by Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, is a comedy that pulls back the curtain on the millennia-old battle between the organizations of good luck and bad luck that secretly affects our daily lives. Split, directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek) and written by Linda Woolverton, tells the story of Elian, a teenager who comes of age using her magical powers to defend her family when the opposing forces of light and darkness threaten to divide her kingdom. Nathan Greno (Tangled) is set to direct Powerless. The studio is located in Los Angeles, CA.