At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the studio's technical direction while mentoring a talented team.
- Company: Join Sumo’s Lab42, a fun and innovative gaming studio.
- Benefits: Flexible working, generous holiday, health perks, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Enjoy a relaxed environment with exciting projects and career growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the gaming industry with cutting-edge technologies and a collaborative culture.
- Qualifications: Expertise in C++, C#, and experience with Unreal and Unity required.
The predicted salary is between 58349 - 71315 £ per year.
Sumo’s Lab42 team is currently working on multiple exciting projects, across a number of game engines and platforms, using cutting‑edge technologies to deliver premium quality solutions for our wide variety of clients.
This role is an awesome opportunity to support and enhance Lab42’s ‘Problems Solved’ reputation, in fusing flexibility with fun and to help forge the future direction of the studio.
We’re a relaxed and welcoming bunch who believe making games should be fun and rewarding, so if that sounds like your thing, come join us!
Responsibilities
- Working alongside the Studio and other Discipline Directors to shape the studio strategy and development practices, influencing decisions at senior studio management and stakeholder level.
- Setting coding standards, engineering best practice and development methodologies across the whole studio and at individual project levels.
- Collaborating with Technical Directors at other Sumo Digital studios to develop and align technical practice where possible, including our AI adoption strategies.
- Working with the Studio Directors, other Discipline Directors and external partners on project pitches, interpreting high‑level client requirements to agree scope, approach and costing.
- Delegating high‑level requirements to project team Lead Programmers and providing guidance on scheduling, scoping and the best technical approach to implementation.
- Driving engineering quality and efficiency across multiple projects, checking and challenging code and systems against agreed standards, including active engineering work on active projects.
- Acting as the senior technical escalation point and sounding board for Lead Programmers with project specific issues, reviewing technical proposals to identify and mitigate risk.
- Providing hands‑on technical support when appropriate.
- Setting engineering team goals and performance expectations, and providing effective and constructive feedback to the studio code team, along with initiatives to improve performance and engagement where necessary.
- Leading the adoption of appropriate usage of AI technologies across the whole Studio, working across disciplines, not just in engineering.
- Coaching and mentoring programmers at all levels, and guiding staff in their development within the Sumo Career Pathway.
- Working with the Studio Director and other Discipline Directors to define the recruitment strategy for the studio from the code team perspective.
- Working with the People team to identify, attract and hire top talent.
Contributing to acquiring and developing projects, and accountable for the engineering delivery of projects run at the studio: Leading, building and developing the code team at the studio:
Requirements
- Expert knowledge of C++ and C#, and comprehensive experience working in Unreal, Unity and bespoke game engine solutions.
- Proven commercial leadership experience in the gaming industry either as a Technical Director, or a Senior/Lead on a major published game title.
- Proven ability to communicate engineering vision, status and risk at a senior level, in both internal and external client facing contexts.
- Experience working on games for console, PC and mobile.
- A consultative approach, working across the whole studio to influence and deliver a variety of projects.
- Exceptional people leadership and communication skills, with proven experience managing Lead Programmers.
- Comprehensive understanding of software development practices, including awareness of both client and server technology solutions and a forward view of emerging technologies and hardware.
Benefits
What we offer
My Money : Flexible benefits allowance, salary sacrifice pension, benefits hub, payroll giving, an employee referral scheme (up to £1,000), workplace ISA and other schemes for tech loans, car loans and bicycles.
My Lifestyle : Flexible working, 22 free choice days holiday, bank holidays, birthday day off, Christmas shutdown (Christmas Eve to New Year) and options to buy or sell up to a week of annual leave*.
My Health and Wellbeing : Dental insurance*, income protection, life assurance, BUPA private healthcare*, leading EAP programs (remote GP, mental health, physio, nutrition, lifestyle coaching and medical second opinions), critical illness cover*, health cash plan* and funded flu vaccines/eye tests.
My Development : Structured Personal Development, regular appraisals and 5 learning days per annum.
Extra Perks : A variety of in‑studio perks, regular care packages, studio days out, studio‑led social activities, sabbaticals (at 10 years service) and annual gaming subscription.
*Opt-in benefits (part of our flexible benefits options).
Studio Technical Director in Royal Leamington Spa employer: Sumo Digital
At Sumo Digital, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture. Our Sheffield studio offers a hybrid working model, allowing for flexibility while engaging with a diverse range of clients and partners across Asia. We are committed to employee growth, providing opportunities for professional development and the chance to work on high-impact projects that shape the future of game development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Studio Technical Director in Royal Leamington Spa
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Sumo Digital or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Sumo Digital.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Sumo Digital.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Sumo Digital that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Studio Technical Director in Royal Leamington Spa
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Sumo Digital.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Sumo Digital and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sumo Digital
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Sumo Digital uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
