Engineering Manager in Cardiff

Please note that this is a hybrid position based in Cardiff, requiring 3 days onsite each week, with the option for remote work on the remaining days.

Part of the Rocket Science Group, Atomic Theory comprises a multinational team of seasoned AAA veterans with roots extending from Blizzard, PUBG, Epic, and Unity. We have a track record of delivering player-centric, AAA-quality experiences, and we are unwavering in our commitment to performance, accessibility, and the meticulous attention to the engineering tools and frameworks that underpin exceptional gameplay.

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Manager to lead and support one or more engineering teams working on game development projects. In this role, you will focus on people leadership, delivery, and technical oversight, enabling engineers to do their best work while ensuring projects are delivered to a high standard. You will work closely with technical leads, producers, and design leadership to balance short-term delivery needs with long-term technical health.

While this role is not expected to be hands-on full time, a strong technical background is essential in order to guide decision-making, support problem-solving, and provide credible leadership to the team. An ideal candidate is someone who enjoys developing people, building healthy and effective teams, and creating clarity in complex or fast-moving environments.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• People Management: Manage engineers, providing regular feedback, coaching, and support through one-to-ones, performance reviews, and career development planning.
• Team Health and Growth: Foster a positive, inclusive team culture that supports collaboration, learning, and psychological safety. Support hiring, onboarding, and team scaling as needed.
• Delivery and Planning: Partner with producers and technical leads to plan work, manage capacity, and ensure teams deliver against agreed goals and timelines.
• Technical Oversight: Provide technical guidance and oversight, helping teams make sound architectural and implementation decisions while maintaining high engineering standards.
• Problem Solving and Escalation: Help teams navigate complex technical or organisational challenges, removing blockers and escalating risks where appropriate.
• Process and Improvement: Continuously evaluate and improve engineering processes, workflows, and practices to support sustainable, predictable delivery.

WHAT WE VALUE

• People-First Leadership: Proven experience managing and developing engineers, with a coaching mindset and a focus on long-term growth.
• Strong Technical Background: Significant experience in software or game development, with enough technical depth to understand trade-offs, review approaches, and guide teams effectively.
• Game Development Experience: Previous experience working in game development environments, including AAA or live service projects.
• Delivery Focus: Experience balancing people management with project delivery, and working closely with production to meet commitments.
• Clear Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to align engineers, producers, and stakeholders around shared goals.
• Adaptability: Comfort working across different game engines, projects, and team structures, and adjusting leadership style as needed.

WHAT YOU MAY ALSO HAVE

• Hiring Experience: Experience interviewing, hiring, and onboarding engineers.
• Change Leadership: Experience leading teams through periods of change, growth, or technical transition.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER

Competitive Salary and Benefits Package: Your health and wellbeing is important to us, so we offer a variety of benefits including: Private Pension via Salary Sacrifice, Optional Private Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage, Annual Leave.