Mid-Games Developer

Overview

Arkadium is seeking an experienced developer to support one of our top clients, Microsoft, on a suite of top-performing games collaborating with the Microsoft Casual Games team. The Microsoft Casual Games (MCG) Studio is focused on delivering the best casual games for Windows, Web, and Mobile platforms. Dedicated to delivering quality game experiences to worldwide fans. In this role you will be accountable for building performant, scalable, and maintainable code that supports core game systems and feature delivery. You’ll partner with cross-functional teams to enhance player experiences through clean architecture, reusability, and continuous technical improvement. Candidates must be available to work standard hours from 09:00 to 18:00 in the Western European Time (WET) zone — (Portugal time zone), where most of the Engineering and Product teams are based. Additionally, candidates must be open to occasionally working U.S. hours to accommodate key cross-time zone meetings. For candidates not residing in Portugal, you will be onboarded as a contractor through our international payroll provider.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain gameplay features that meet product requirements and quality standards.
• Collaborate with other developers and product owners to clarify requirements and identify potential technical issues early in planning.
• Work closely with designers and artists to integrate assets into gameplay.
• Follow coding standards and best practices to keep the codebase clean, stable, and scalable.
• Debug and optimize performance to ensure smooth gameplay across browsers and mobile devices.
• Participate in code reviews and technical discussions, contributing ideas, and sharing knowledge with peers.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 2+ years of experience in game development, preferably with web-based or cross-platform games.
• Good understanding of game architecture, design patterns, and front-end systems.
• Experience with rendering frameworks (e.g., PixiJS, Three.js) or with game frameworks and engines (e.g., Phaser, Unity, Godot, etc.).
• Familiarity with Agile workflows, version control systems (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and collaborative tools (e.g., Jira, GitHub).
• Strong debugging and optimization skills for browsers and mobile devices.
• Good testing discipline and attention to code quality.
• Clear communication and teamwork skills, with a proactive and responsible approach to problem-solving.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Unity Game Engine.
• Knowledge of REST APIs and integration with backend systems.
• Experience with JavaScript and TypeScript, or prior hands-on experience working with them.

Benefits

We offer:

• Competitive compensation with structured performance and career development check-ins
• Health insurance
• Additional budget for conferences you are interested in
• Personal development budget to fuel your passions and desire to learn (Arkadians are taking classes in not only Excel and leadership, but also interior design and even swimming!)
• Time off from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day so we can all enjoy the holidays
• A unique culture of transparency, true teamwork and fun
• Summer Fridays: Fridays off throughout the Summer to have more fun in the sun!

The above benefits may vary depending on location or country.

This is a 1‑year, temporary contract position. Candidates outside of Portugal will be engaged via Arkadium’s international payroll provider.