Director, Technology Research

Taketwo; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness allowance

Employee discount programs

Free games & events

Job summary

Taketwo in Austin, Texas is looking for a Director of Technology Research to lead a small elite team. This role focuses on identifying emerging technologies and influencing the company's platform strategy over the next 18-36 months.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in software engineering, strong vendor relationships, and the ability to communicate complex concepts to non-technical audiences. Taketwo offers a dynamic working culture, competitive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software engineering, platform engineering, or technology strategy roles.
• 3+ years leading technical teams.
• Deep relationships with two major cloud/technology vendors.

Responsibilities

• Own the Technology Radar and maintain quarterly updates.
• Build strategic vendor partnerships with major tech firms.
• Recruit and mentor a team of Senior Research Engineers.

Skills

Software engineering

Technology strategy

Cloud infrastructure

AI/ML

Education

Advanced degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Cloud platforms

Distributed systems

Job description

Who We Are

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, and Zynga. Our strategy is to create hit entertainment experiences, delivered on every platform relevant to our audience through a variety of sound business models. Our pillars - creativity, innovation, and efficiency - guide us as we strive to create the highest quality, most captivating experiences for our consumers. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

While our offices are casual and inviting, we are deeply committed to our core tenets of creativity, innovation and efficiency, and individual and team development opportunities. Our industry and business are continually evolving and fast-paced, providing numerous opportunities to learn and hone your skills. We work hard, but we also like to have fun, and believe that we provide a great place to come to work each day to pursue your passions.

The Challenge

We are building a small, elite Technology Research team tasked with seeing around corners. While our Edge labels focus on the next 12–18 months, your team looks 18–36 months out — partnering with Amazon, Google, and other strategic vendors to evaluate, prototype, and recommend the technologies that will shape Take‑Two's platform strategy. As the Director, Technology Research you will lead a team of four Senior Research Engineers and own the Technology Radar, vendor research partnerships, and the bridge between emerging technology and production roadmaps.

This is not an ivory tower R&D role. Every insight must have a path to impact.

What You’ll Take On

Own the Technology Radar

• Build and maintain a quarterly Technology Radar (Adopt / Trial / Assess / Hold) that becomes the authoritative reference for technology decisions across Technology & Media Systems (TMS).
• Ensure every recommendation is backed by hands‑on prototyping, not analyst reports.

Build Strategic Vendor Partnerships

• Establish and own research relationships with Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and key emerging vendors.
• Negotiate early‑access programs, joint research initiatives, and quarterly executive briefings.
• Be the person our partners call when they have something new — and the person our labels call when they need to understand what's coming.

Lead a Team of Polymaths

• Recruit, mentor, and retain four Senior Research Engineers across cloud, AI/ML, platform, and gaming technology.
• Foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, rigorous experimentation, and clear communication.
• Ensure the team ships prototypes and written recommendations, not slide decks.

Bridge Research to Roadmap

• Present findings quarterly to label CTOs and Edge leadership.
• Translate “interesting technology” into “here’s what it means for our platform in 18 months, and here’s the proof‑of‑concept.”
• Contribute technology bets to annual investment planning.

How You Will Work

• Prototypes over Presentations: Your team's currency is working code and data, not PowerPoints.
• Opinionated but Open: You have strong views on where technology is heading, but you change your mind when the evidence says so.
• Connected: You are deeply networked in the technology ecosystem — you know what's happening before it's announced.

What You Bring

• You are a technologist first and a manager second. You can still write code, read a paper, and argue architecture with your team.
• You have a genuine passion for what's next — not just what's trendy. You can distinguish signal from noise in a hype cycle.
• You are an exceptional communicator who can make complex technology accessible to non‑technical executives without dumbing it down.
• You build teams that people don't want to leave.

• 10+ years in software engineering, platform engineering, or technology strategy roles
• 3+ years leading technical teams
• Deep relationships with at least two major cloud/technology vendors
• Track record of identifying and championing technologies before mainstream adoption
• Experience publishing technology assessments, radar documents, or similar artifacts
• Hands‑on proficiency in at least two of: cloud infrastructure, AI/ML, distributed systems, developer tooling

Great to Have

• Experience in the gaming or entertainment technology industry
• Background in developer platforms, infrastructure, or SRE
• Experience running innovation labs, R&D teams, or applied research functions
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

What We Offer You

• Great Company Culture. Ranked as one of the most creative and innovative places to work, creativity, innovation, efficiency, diversity and philanthropy are among the core tenets of our organization and are integral drivers of our continued success.
• Growth. As a global entertainment company, we pride ourselves on creating environments where employees are encouraged to be themselves, inquisitive, collaborative and to grow within and around the company.
• Work Hard, Play Hard.Our employees bond, blow‑off steam, and flex some creative muscles – through corporate boot camp classes, company parties, game release events, monthly socials, and team challenges.
• Benefits. Medical (HSA & FSA), dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan, commuter benefits, in‑house wellness program, broad learning & development opportunities, a charitable giving platform with company match and more!
• Perks. Fitness allowance, employee discount programs, free games & events and stocked pantries.

Please be aware that Take‑Two does not conduct job interviews or make job offers over third‑party messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, or others. Take‑Two also does not engage in any financial exchanges during the recruitment or onboarding process, and the Company will never ask a candidate for their personal or financial information over an app or other unofficial chat channel. Any attempt to do so may be the result of a scam or phishing exercise. Take‑Two’s in‑house recruitment team will only contact individuals through their official Company email addresses (i.e., via a take2games.com email domain). If you need to report an issue or otherwise have questions, please contact [e-mail].

As an equal opportunity employer, Take‑Two Interactive Software, Inc. (“Take‑Two”) is committed to fostering and celebrating the diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds of its talent, partners, and communities throughout its organization. Consistent with this commitment, Take‑Two does not discriminate or retaliate against any employee or job applicant because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, and genetic information (including family medical history), or on the basis of any other trait protected by applicable law. If you need to report a concern or have questions regarding Take‑Two’s equal opportunity commitment, please contact [e-mail].