At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of developers to create innovative games and mentor junior members.
- Company: Join tombola, a pioneering game studio with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, free meals, and hybrid working options.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of inclusivity and personal growth at tombola.
- Why this job: Step into a leadership role and make a real impact in game development.
- Qualifications: Senior Developer experience with leadership skills and a passion for mentoring.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
hackajob is collaborating with Tombola to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role. Hybrid - Sunderland - Perm. Join the Exciting Journey at tombola! We’re looking for a Lead Game Developer to join our brilliant Game Studio team here at tombola. This is a great opportunity to step into a leadership role within a team that builds everything in house. The role has opened up due to an internal promotion, which is always something we love to see at tombola, and now we’re looking for someone ready to take that next step in their career.
You’ll be joining a collaborative studio where you’ll lead a small squad of developers, working closely with designers, product and other stakeholders to deliver brilliant games for our players. Stakeholder management is a big part of the role, so we’re looking for someone who enjoys communicating ideas, bringing people together and helping move projects forward.
This role is perfect for someone who enjoys leading people while still staying close to the tech. You’ll be mentoring and coaching developers, helping your squad grow and succeed, while also remaining hands on with development and playing a key role in driving features and projects forward. If you’ve already been mentoring others, coaching teammates or taking ownership of projects, this could be a fantastic step into a more formal leadership position.
We follow a hybrid way of working, with the team coming together in our Sunderland office three days a week to collaborate, share ideas and spend time with the wider Game Studio. The other two days offer flexibility to work from home.
At tombola, we’re not just another player in the game. We’re the creators of the game. Our approach is revolutionary. We craft every element of our software in house, from concept to execution. We take pride in the ingenuity of our developers and designers, united by their passion for pushing boundaries and shaping the future.
What do we offer? We champion a culture of inclusivity, flexibility, personal development and mental wellbeing. As well as a salary that will be more than agreeable for you, we offer market leading benefits such as quarterly bonus, tombola merch, free breakfast and lunches in the office, private healthcare, hybrid working and much more.
Sounds great! What will I be doing? You will be responsible for helping to increase the capacity of the game studio by taking on some responsibility for people management and personal development for a small squad of developers. We want squad leads who are focused on delivering the best products possible to our customers while developing others to be the best they can be. Someone who is able to overcome challenges, deal with pressure and make everyone around you a better employee and person. Someone who is focused on helping their team lead build the best team possible.
We’re looking for someone with an "anything is possible" mindset. Impossible is just a challenge.
What does "good" look like for us?
- An established Senior Developer with leadership experience
- Able to deliver effective and engaging 1 to 1s to your squad
- Responsible for managing holidays and absence for your squad
- A good communicator who can express ideas clearly and work with non technical colleagues
- Able to give effective feedback during code reviews
- Keen to learn. tombola do a lot of things other companies don’t, so there is a lot to learn
- An agent for change who looks for better ways of working and suggests improvements
- Passionate about our customers experience and delivering quality software solutions
- Able to mentor more junior members of the team
- Able to lead small teams on features and projects
- Keen to keep up with industry trends
- Open to using AI as part of your workflow and exploring innovative ways it can augment our processes and pipelines
At tombola we know that our differences make us stronger and that thinking differently is key to long term success. We work hard to create a culture of inclusivity where everyone can celebrate our Free to be me value. We are committed to creating opportunities for everyone here at tombola, we welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage individuals to apply, even if you don’t meet every requirement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Game Developer - Game Studio (Sunderland)
✨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 Tombola 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 Tombola.
✨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 Tombola.
✨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 Tombola 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 Lead Game Developer - Game Studio (Sunderland)
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 Tombola.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Tombola 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 Tombola
✨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 Tombola 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.
