At Wooly Games we make cozy, fuzzy games using hand-felted stop-motion animation. We are a woman-founded and -led studio passionate about diversity and inclusion, and we strive to include under-represented identities within the gaming industry. We believe in fostering inclusivity and accessibility in our games and our development process. As a small indie team, we embrace a collaborative, fun, and creative work environment.

Position Overview

• Job Title: Technical Director
• Company: Wooly Games
• Location: Remote or Hybrid
• Employment Type: Full-time, 6-Month Contract (Potential for Extension)
• Salary: $60 USD/hour
• Benefits: N/A

Wooly Games is seeking a Technical Director to lead all programming efforts for the studio. This role involves working alongside the Creative Director, Game Designer, and Project Manager to expand on the existing game systems and code. You will help translate creative concepts into gameplay while supporting the unique pipeline of stop-motion animated assets. Additionally, as funding becomes available, you'll have the opportunity to help scale the programming team.

This role is ideal for someone who is excited to grow with our studio, contribute to a first-of-its-kind hand-felted video game, and has an interest in creative problem-solving and inclusive game development.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the overall technical direction of FELTOPIA and future projects.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director, Game Designer, and other team members to translate design concepts into functional gameplay systems.
• Work closely with stop-motion animation processes to integrate animated assets into the game engine.
• Scale and mentor a programming team, as needed, ensuring the technical vision aligns with the studio's goals.
• Troubleshoot and optimize the game to ensure smooth performance across platforms.
• Champion inclusivity and accessibility in both gameplay and development processes.
• Design and implement the architecture of game systems, including engine, tools, and pipelines.
• Ensure the scalability, performance, and robustness of the code base.
• Monitor and improve game performance across platforms, ensuring smooth gameplay, framerate, and memory usage.
• Address technical challenges, including troubleshooting complex issues like bugs, optimization, and platform-specific challenges.
• Evaluate new technologies, tools, and systems to keep the game and pipeline innovative and efficient.
• Ensure all technical decisions are feasible given time, budget, and resource constraints.
• Develop and maintain the tools that the team will use to create and optimize the game.
• Ensure that technical workflows are efficient and allow the creative team to iterate quickly.
• Identify potential risks in development and work proactively to solve or mitigate technical issues before they become problematic.
• Provide technical input to support realistic scheduling and deliver on key project milestones.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years experience overseeing programming and shipping successful games.
• Proficient in Unity and C#.
• Has shipped at least one game using Unity
• Good understanding of all aspects of game development, including design, art, audio, and production pipelines.
• Experience working collaboratively with small teams and Artistic Directors.
• Ability to delegate tasks, mentor technical artists, and collaborate with junior developers.
• Working knowledge of version control systems like Git, Perforce, etc., to ensure smooth collaboration among team members.
• Familiarity with deploying and optimizing games on multiple platforms (e.g., PC, consoles, mobile).
• Passion for hand-crafted video games and an appreciation for stop-motion animation.
• Must use own computer. Unity license and other required software fees paid for by studio

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with the audio tool, FMOD.
• Familiarity with or experience in stop-motion animation processes.

Why Wooly Games?

• Join a diverse, inclusive, and creative indie game studio.
• Contribute to the development of a one-of-a-kind stop-motion animated video game.
• Have the potential to grow within the studio beyond the initial contract term.
• Enjoy a team-centered, fun work environment where your creativity and unique skills are encouraged.

How to Apply

If you’re passionate about cozy, handmade video games and are excited about the prospect of leading the technical development for FELTOPIA, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us an email with your cover letter and resume.

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 1, 2024