Technical Director

Astrid is an entertainment venture, imagining and crafting fantastical worlds with creative minds and innovative technology to inspire exploration, connection and wonder. We are currently building our first world/game and crafting our dream team - inspiring thoughtful and forward thinking individuals, who wish to collaborate, push limits and most importantly, have fun!

We're seeking an experienced Lead Engineer to join its small and thoughtful leadership team as we push the boundaries in gaming and IP and offer fans new meaningful worlds and experiences. We are looking for an individual who has a passion for the potential of emergent gameplay and a deep understanding of the systemic design, rapid prototyping and the relevant technologies and processes that enable this.

The right candidate will have experience with leading teams working on innovative entertainment products or features, from ideation and prototyping through production and launch, and beyond into a live service. This role is part of the founding team of leaders who will drive the development of our first new game and overall studio strategy and culture.

• Join our collaborative brain trust and contribute to Astrid’s values, vision, and strategy.
• Working hands‑on on our early prototypes whilst providing technical leadership.
• Hire and build our in‑house engineering team. Provide technical guidance and mentorship. Partner with creative leaders to define the experience of play.
• Create and manage an overall technical roadmap that meshes with the company and project strategy and goals.
• Maintain regular internal communications and encourage a positive and inclusive team atmosphere. Work with internal and 3rd party teams to create and vet project and studio technical plans. Audit the technical quality of emerging technologies and integrations.
• Ensure that our product is being built with a productive methodology and solid coding practices, technical briefs and code reviews. Identify and mitigate all technical risks for the various stakeholders, including internal studios and external partners.
• Ensure stakeholders are informed on progress in terms of what commitments have been made and how the execution of initiatives and milestones is going.

• 5+ years of game development experience, ideally on emergent social gameplay and systems. At least one full project cycle.
• 3+ years of technical (senior or lead) leadership experience in the AAA, Indie, and/or mobile gaming industry.
• Understanding of multi‑platform (PC, mobile, console) game development. Technical and product judgment required to improve product quality as well as technical productivity.
• Ability to identify risks early and often and suggest mitigation strategies that are thoughtful and consider multiple paths to a solution.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills.

• Enjoy playing/creating sandbox, social and simulation type games (examples: Mine Craft, Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley).