Associate Technical Director

Stellar Entertainment Software; Guildford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Holiday accrual

International AAA projects

Cutting-edge hardware

Discretionary bonus

Private healthcare

Pension plan

Life assurance

Wellness programme

Team incentives

Job summary

Stellar Entertainment Software in Guildford (UK) seeks an Associate Technical Director to lead the technical direction of a new AAA project. You will mentor engineers, bridge gaps between creative and technical teams, and ensure the game meets its technical goals while pushing boundaries.

You will work hands-on when needed and collaborate with art, design, production, and external partners to translate vision into playable, high-quality experiences.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience as Associate Technical Director, Technical Lead, or Lead Engineer, with AAA project leadership.
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and core game engineering disciplines.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across multiple disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Bridge creative and technical aspects of development across art, design and production.
• Shape and implement a clear technical vision for the game.
• Mentor and manage the engineering team to maintain quality and momentum.
• Conduct code reviews and debugging to ensure performance and stability.
• Run effective technical reviews and recruit/talent develop the team.

Skills

Leadership

C/C++

Team building

Communication

Mentoring

Game development

Job description

The Studio:

We are a video game development studio with offices in Guildford, UK and Utrecht, Netherlands. Sitting within the heart of thriving communities of game developers and publishers, we focus on quality and excellence, and our partners and players are always at the front of everything we do.

Games are not just about gameplay. We believe in the importance of balancing every single aspect of a game that you, as a player will interact with; what you see, how you play and how it makes you feel.

It couldn't be a more exciting time to join us on a new, unannounced game where we are continuing to push both player experience and quality in the creation of this AAA experience.

The Role

As an Associate Technical Director, you'll partner closely with our Technical Director to lead and shape the technical direction of our new project. You'll oversee key technical aspects of game development while mentoring and managing a team of engineers, ensuring the game meets its technical goals and pushes boundaries wherever possible.

You'll work across every department, including art, design, production, and external clients, bridging the gap between creative vision and technical execution. We're looking for someone who's just as comfortable being hands-on in the code as they are leading people: a strong mentor who can develop talent and provide clear direction.

If you can combine technical expertise, a passion for games, and strong leadership skills, this could be the role for you.

As our Associate Technical Director, you will:

• Bridge the gap between creative and technical aspects of development, working closely with art, design, and production
• Partner with other department leads to shape and implement a clear technical vision for the game
• Offer pragmatic technical expertise where needed, while empowering your team to find their own solutions
• Conduct code reviews and debugging, giving constructive feedback to maintain code quality and efficiency
• Mentor and manage the team, ensuring code quality meets the game's requirementsHelp build a skilled, motivated technical team through recruitment and talent development
• Run effective meetings and software/build reviews that encourage active feedback and new ideas
• Support the Technical Director as needed

Requirements

• Proven leadership experience as an Associate Technical Director, Technical Lead, or Lead Engineer, having led at least one full AAA game project from start to finish
• Strong proficiency in C/C++ and a solid grasp of core game engineering disciplines
• A track record of building and managing cohesive, high-performing teams
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines
• A genuine passion for making great games and pushing technical boundaries

Bonus points if you have:

• Previous experience in building large scale, realtime, multiplayer games

Benefits

What you can expect from us:

• Flexible hybrid working (we work 3 days per week on-site)
• Holiday Accrual Scheme
• International AAA game projects;
• Access to cutting-edge hardware;
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private Healthcare Plan incl. Dental and Eye care
• Pension Plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme - Wellness Support
• Regular Team Incentives and Social Events

We're on an important journey with our teammates, candidates and industry partners to tackle barriers to equality and promote diversity, inclusion and accessibility across the markets we work in. If you need any support during the interview process or any feedback on our processes, please let us know.

Some things to note before applying

• We're not able to offer visa sponsorship or relocation assistance for this role, so you'll need to already be based in the UK with the right to work here.
• This is an on-site role at our Guildford studio, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.