Lead game engineer
Oversee the technical development of video games and managing a team of engineers to make sure the game is delivered on time.
About the job
What it's like
You'll have the opportunity to create state-of-the-art concepts from scratch. Your day will involve discussing new combat sequences for a lead character or working on new dialogue for a cutscene.
Your tasks might include:
leading the creation of a game from start to finish
working across multiple departments to make sure a game is being made to high standards
developing characters, dialogue and storyline ideas
managing a team of engineers
Hours
You'll generally work full-time hours. You might need to work overtime at weekends and evenings to meet deadlines.
Environment
You'll spend most of your time working at a computer, usually in a studio. You'll work in a team that includes artists, programmers, developers and testers.
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Creative
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- working with technology
- problem solving
- managing resources
- innovative
- implementing ideas
- cooperating
- analysing
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Physics
Computing Science
Maths (Mathematics)
Foundation Apprenticeship: Software Development
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are a variety of options for becoming a lead game engineer. Studying a degree in software development is a good place to start.
You could also do an apprenticeship in either:
Another option to consider is doing a Graduate Apprenticeship in IT: Software Development, which would let you get a degree level qualification while working in the industry.
Lead game engineers have knowledge of animation and computer scripting language such as Python.
While not all employers list specific qualification requirements they do ask for relevant experience, usually work based, that demonstrates a range of transferable skills.
Search technology volunteering opportunities on Volunteer.scot.
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