Engineering Manager - Games 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’re unwavering in our commitment to performance, accessibility, and the meticulous attention to the engineering tools and frameworks that underpin exceptional gameplay.

But Atomic Theory is also more than just a studio; for us, it’s a sanctuary, a place where our diverse experiences can intersect and combine to carry our solutions to the next level. We’re dedicated to aiding studios and publishers in navigating the toughest challenges across today’s game development landscape – and with offices in Albany, NY; and Cardiff, UK, we thrive at the opportunity to Get Sh!t Done on a global scale.

Our passion for gaming is at the core of everything we do, inspiring us to collaborate seamlessly. We’re not afraid to take on big challenges and push for bold, innovative solutions. Every decision we make is guided by the goal of delivering maximum value and creating a significant, positive impact on our projects. By consistently going above and beyond, we transform every interaction into an exceptional partnership, building trust and delivering excellence.

ABOUT THE ROLE

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, plus Bank Holidays and Winter Break Office Closure.
• Hybrid Working Arrangement: Our office in Cardiff is located right in City Centre, just a couple minutes away from the Cardiff Central Train Station! As a member of our team, you’ll have the flexibility to work at home and collaborate with your fellow team mates in person.
• Annual Research Credit: We always encourage personal growth, so we provide all of our team members with an annual credit to further enhance your skills!
• Professional Development: We offer biannual reviews, as well as opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, internal tech talks, and the chance to learn from specialists with backgrounds from across the games and software development industries.
• Work‑Life Balance: We really believe that home life comes first and we promote a flexible working environment. And as an added bonus: We don’t crunch!
• Family Friendly: We understand the importance of family, which is why we offer 6 weeks full of Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave to support you during this exciting time!
• Office Perks: In addition to everything above, we also provide: Weekly Team Lunches, Snacks, Including the Good (Yorkshire) Tea, Fully Equipped Team Lounge, Including our Favourite Consoles and Games, and, most importantly, a supportive and creative working environment made up of talented and friendly people, as well as the opportunity to work on some pretty cool games and projects – if we do say so ourselves!

A FRIENDLY NOTE FROM THE RECRUITMENT TEAM

Let us do the work for you: Even if your profile isn’t an exact match for all of the qualifications listed above, we still want you to apply. Our team members come from a variety of different industries, not all of which are immediately relevant to game or software development, and we welcome all candidates of similarly varied backgrounds, communities, and identities.

Rocket Science is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a worry‑free workplace void of discrimination or harassment. Rocket Scientists are expected to foster and champion an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve.

Rocket Science does not accept unsolicited résumés from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms.