---
title: 'Associate Technical Director at Stellar Entertainment Software Ltd'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-technical-director-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-9s70j15bh383'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# Associate Technical Director at Stellar Entertainment Software Ltd

- **Company:** Stellar Entertainment Software Ltd
- **Location:** Guildford, United Kingdom
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-07-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/stellarentertainment/15801e8c-be67-47e4-ad33-32c00964a8a5

## 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 requirements
- Help 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

What we’re looking to see on your CV

- 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.

## About Stellar Entertainment Software Ltd

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Stellar Entertainment is a people-centric game development studio that partners with high-profile industry partners to create high-quality interactive entertainment software.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Bootstrapped/Independently owned)
- **Headquarters**: Guildford, United Kingdom (also has an office in Utrecht, Netherlands)
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Not publicly available (scan of leadership shows alumni from AAA studios)

## Core Business
- Primary industry: **Video Game Development** (Ready-made interactive leisure and entertainment software)
- Target customers: B2B (publishing partners) and B2C (gamers/players)
- Mission: "To create & amaze" — delivering work of exceptionally high quality that speaks for itself.

## Products & Services
Stellar Entertainment is known as a **co-development partner** rather than an original IP holder. They work on high-profile franchise titles:
- **Vehicle Handling & Physics Engineering**: Specialized in realistic driving and vehicle physics for racing/simulation games.
- **Full-Game Co-Development**: Partnering with major publishers to build AAA-quality titles.
- **Rendering & Graphics Technology**: Cutting-edge rendering engineering and technical art.

Specific game titles are not listed on their public site, but their expertise and LinkedIn talent patterns (alumni from Splash Damage, Criterion Games, Wargaming) suggest work on major racing and action titles.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly available (Private company)
- **Annual Revenue**: Not publicly available (SIC code 62011 - Interactive leisure software)
- **Total Funding**: Not publicly available — the company appears to be self-funded or operating on a project-based, fee-for-service model.
- **Notable Partners & Clients**: High-profile (but unnamed) industry partners; member of UKIE (UK games trade association); supports Women in Games.
- **Growth Signals**:
    - **Headcount**: 55 employees (+8.5% YoY)
    - **Geography**: Operates across 6 countries (UK, Netherlands, Spain, France, South Korea, Austria)
    - **Active Hiring**: 8 active job postings (as of mid-2026), up +100% quarterly and down -27.3% yearly — indicating a stabilising but active growth phase.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Talent Magnet**: High retention of senior and director-level talent (28% Senior, 12% Director). Ex-employees go on to major studios (nDreams, Criterion, Jagex, Aardman), suggesting excellent training and career launchpad.
- **Specialized Expertise**: Deep specialization in vehicle handling, physics, and rendering engineering gives them a defensible niche in a market where such talent is scarce.
- **"Stellar Code" Culture**: Emphasizes trust, flexibility, and taking on "the difficult work" so partners and players can enjoy an unparalleled experience. Known for a high-quality bar without a "crunch" culture.

## Strategic Focus
- **International Expansion**: Has a formal international placement scheme allowing UK employees to work in the Netherlands (Utrecht office).
- **People-First Scaling**: Growing headcount by 8.5% annually while maintaining a strong culture. Focused on attracting "fresh faces to decorated veterans."
- **Partnership Model**: Continues to deepen relationships with major publishers rather than developing original IP, reducing financial risk and allowing focus on pure engineering/art excellence.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Flexibility**: "Life happens — we work a hybrid flexible working system." Core days in the office with flexible hours. Remote and hybrid roles available (e.g., Principal Rendering Engineer can be remote UK).
- **Benefits**:
    - 24 days holiday (UK), 25 days (NL), increasing to 30 days with tenure
    - Office closed over Christmas period
    - Private medical insurance (UK) with online GP, nutritional support, wellbeing portal
    - Dental, optical, and hearing support
    - Flu jab reimbursement
    - Discretionary bonus scheme with regular check-ins
    - Pension scheme
    - Cycle-to-work scheme
    - International working scheme (relocation to Netherlands)
    - "13e maand" (13th month payment) for NL employees
- **Mental Health**: Dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing events year-round.
- **Social Culture**: Summer socials, Christmas parties, weekly Friday "hangout hour" at 4pm.
- **Diversity & Inclusion**: Supports Women in Games (with two ambassadors at Stellar), UKIE membership, and actively encourages all candidates regardless of background.

## Sources
1. [stellarentertainment.software](https://stellarentertainment.software/)
2. [stellar.games/about-us](https://www.stellar.games/about-us/)
3. [stellar.games/join-us](https://www.stellar.games/join-us/)
4. [UK Government Companies House](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/NI640434)
5. [LinkedIn - Stellar Entertainment Software](https://uk.linkedin.com/company/stellar-entertainment-software)
6. [Built In - Stellar Entertainment Software](https://builtin.com/company/stellar-entertainment-software)

## Other roles at Stellar Entertainment Software Ltd

- [Technical Artist](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-artist-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-8xa62czvn7dj) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Associate Art Director](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-art-director-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-p9q8gqgk11w6) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Optimisation Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/optimisation-engineer-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-bwvstayqmm3m) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/systems-engineer-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-asfj2nx377ez) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Senior Systems Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-engineer-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-czksznk0jnbk) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Senior Generalist & Physics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-generalist-physics-engineer-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-ft9mz7s4dzdq) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Senior Gameplay Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-gameplay-engineer-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-utrecht-vy24jkanayk8) — Utrecht, Canada
- [Rendering Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/rendering-engineer-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-5s86xk98019k) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Senior Vehicle Handling Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-vehicle-handling-engineer-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-3p8hjwzs0dw3) — Guildford, United Kingdom
- [Talent Pool](https://feeny.ai/job/talent-pool-stellar-entertainment-software-ltd-guildford-tsybd0s9cjm4) — Guildford, United Kingdom