Game Engine Engineer at thatgamecompany (Shanghai, China)

thatgamecompany· Shanghai, China·1d ago

Role details

Work type

Onsite

Employment

Full-Time

Job description

Analyze and resolve complex game performance bottlenecks, optimizing CPU/GPU, memory, energy, and I/O usage across a wide spectrum of Android devices
Evaluate team workflows to identify inefficiencies, developing solutions that streamline engineering processes and proactively reduce technical debt
Design and implement robust Android performance testing metrics and automated pipelines to elevate the gameplay development experience
Diagnose and fix rendering anomalies and runtime issues, including frame-rate drops, graphical artifacts, and memory leaks
Collaborate closely with various disciplines, including artists, designers, and other engineers, to gather requirements, deliver and iterate on features

Required Skills

5+ years of professional software development experience using C++
Strong foundation in computer science, applied mathematics, and analytical modeling
Deep understanding of the Android ecosystem and mobile game development
Experience with multithreading, performance analysis, and code optimization
Proficiency in at least one Graphics API (Vulkan, OpenGL, or Metal)
Fluent in written English for professional communications

Cross-platform development experience (iOS/Windows/PlayStation/Nintendo Switch)
Familiarity with Lua, or similar scripting languages
Ability to discuss or share examples of advanced C++ work (e.g., custom engines, renderers, or similar projects)

Culture: The studio describes itself as “compassionate, creative” and values “integrity and personal growth within an environment of intense collaboration and experimentation.” Employee rating on LinkedIn: 4.2/5.0 (11 reviews), with Culture score 4.3, Work-Life 4.2, Compensation 4.2, Career 4.1.
Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy: Not explicitly stated in provided sources, but headquarters in Santa Monica, California is a physical studio. The company previously planned a second studio in SF Bay Area (cancelled due to COVID) and now operates distributed across 15 countries, suggesting flexible/remote options are possible.
Notable Perks & Engineering Culture: Emphasis on “making magic” and pushing artistic boundaries; tech stack includes Kubernetes, Docker, Prometheus, Protobuf, Tableau, microservices, and GitHub. Employees come from top entertainment/tech companies (Pixar, Blizzard, Riot Games, Amazon, Unity, etc.), indicating a high-caliber peer group.
Growth Opportunity: With 24 active job postings (including Engineering, AI, Art, Marketing, Data) and a yearly hiring trend +4.3%, the studio is expanding. Roles such as Senior Data Analyst, Senior Machine Learning Engineer, and 3D Environment Artist signal opportunities to work on flagship products.
Mission-driven work: Opportunity to contribute to games that aim to make a positive impact on players’ lives and expand the emotional range of the medium.

One-liner: thatgamecompany is an independent game studio dedicated to creating timeless, emotionally resonant interactive entertainment that inspires human connection worldwide.
Entity Type: Private (Privately Held; last reported funding round in 2022 with $160M investment)
Headquarters: Santa Monica, California, United States
Founded: 2006 (founded on May 15, 2006)
Founders: Jenova Chen, Kellee Santiago

Primary industry/industries: Video games / Interactive entertainment
Target customers: B2C – broad audience of all ages and backgrounds; mobile, console, and PC gamers
Mission or purpose statement: “Create timeless entertainment that makes positive change to the human psyche worldwide.”

flOw (2007): A downloadable game originally a Flash title, remade for PlayStation Network with enhanced visuals and multiplayer. Focuses on intuitive, meditative gameplay.
Flower (2009): A PS3 title where the player controls the wind to guide petals through landscapes. Evokes emotions of tranquility and wonder. Inducted into the Smithsonian’s permanent collection.
Journey (2012): Award-winning PS3 game about a pilgrim crossing a desert towards a mountain. Known for its anonymous multiplayer cooperation and emotional storytelling.
Sky: Children of the Light (2019): Free-to-play mobile/console/PC game (spiritual successor to Journey). Players explore magical realms, fly using capes, and meet other players. Available on iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Windows. Reached 100 million installations by May 2021. Chosen as Apple’s iPhone Game of the Year 2019.
Upcoming fifth game (in development): Described by founder Jenova Chen as “like a theme park” and “the most ambitious game I have built.”

Valuation/Market Cap: Not publicly disclosed
Key Metric: Annual Revenue – $17.8M (estimated 2025 data); Total Funding – $36.1M per LinkedIn (prior rounds) plus a $160M investment announced in March 2022 (with Pixar co-founder Edwin Catmull as advisor). (Sources conflict slightly; the $160M appears to be a later, larger round not reflected in the LinkedIn summary)
Notable Investors/Partners: Benchmark (led Series A), Capital Today (led Series B), Edwin Catmull (advisor, former Pixar co-founder). Past partners include Sony Computer Entertainment (initial contract for three PlayStation Network games).
Growth Signals: Headcount grew 16% YoY to ~198 employees; operates across 15 countries; Sky continues to expand platforms (Windows early access April 2024); active job postings: 24 (yearly trend +4.3%). Announced a new game jam (“thatgamejam”) in June 2025 focused on creativity and emotion.

Unique emotional design philosophy: Games are designed by first mapping out desired player emotions rather than mechanics, creating experiences rarely found in mainstream gaming.
Artistic credibility and legacy: flOw, Flower, and Journey are critically acclaimed and exhibited in museums like the Smithsonian. The studio is recognized as a pioneer of art games.
Broad accessibility: Games are intuitive, controller-friendly, and designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages and cultures.
Long-term relationship with a passionate community: Sky has a dedicated player base with millions of installations, supported by live operations and regular content updates.
Creative autonomy: The company prioritizes innovation over blockbuster financial pressure, enabling risk-taking on emotionally rich projects.

Expanding Sky: Children of the Light – continued platform releases, live content, and regional brand growth (e.g., dedicated brand managers for Indonesia, China).
Developing the next-generation title – described as “the most ambitious” yet, with a theme-park-like scale.
Deepening AI and machine learning capabilities – open positions for Senior Machine Learning Engineer and Full-stack Engineer (AI application focused) indicate investment in AI-driven gameplay or operations.
Fostering internal creativity – initiatives like thatgamejam encourage experimentation across the studio.
Strengthening global presence – operating in 15 countries with localized teams for publishing, support, and marketing.

Sources