Individual Contributor (IC) career path for Game Developer

Intern Game Developer

Has less than 1 year of experience. Learning basic of programming.

Skills needed for Intern Game Developer

• Learns Image-based Effects
• Learns Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Learns Intersection Test Methods
• Learns Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Learns Acceleration Algorithms
• Learns Python
• Learns HTML5
• Learns Lua
• Learns Board Games
• Learns Tactical & Strategic AI
• Learns Execution Management
• Learns Probability & Statistics
• Learns Calculus
• Learns Numerical Analysis
• Learns Linear Algebra
• Learns Unity
• Learns CryEngine
• Learns Pipeline Optimization
• Learns AI
• Learns Operating Systems
• Learns Pathfinding
• Learns Discrete Mathematics
• Learns Construct
• Learns Global Illumination
• Learns Collision Detection
• Learns Visual Appereance
• Learns Database Management
• Learns Godot
• Learns Shading
• Learns Area & Environmental Lighting
• Learns Transforms
• Learns Rendering Pipeline
• Learns Texturing
• Learns Graphics
• Learns System Programming
• Learns Computer Architecture
• Learns C/C++
• Learns Movement
• Learns Event Management
• Learns Decision Making
• Learns Content
• Learns Engineering Mathematics
• Learns GameMaker
• Learns GameSalad
• Learns Cocos2d-x
• Learns Unreal

Junior Game Developer

Has approximately 1-2 years experience and basic programming foundations. Contribute ideas during team meetings

Skills needed for Junior Game Developer

• Knows Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Knows Rendering Pipeline
• Knows Intersection Test Methods
• Knows Visual Appereance
• Learns Movement
• Learns AI
• Knows Discrete Mathematics
• Knows Probability & Statistics
• Knows Numerical Analysis
• Learns GameSalad
• Learns Unity
• Learns Metal
• Learns Vulkan
• Knows Image-based Effects
• Knows Transforms
• Knows Collision Detection
• Learns Tactical & Strategic AI
• Learns Execution Management
• Learns Graphics
• Learns System Programming
• Learns Database Management
• Knows Calculus
• Learns Godot
• Learns CryEngine
• Learns Unreal
• Learns WebGL
• Learns OpenGL
• Knows Texturing
• Knows Acceleration Algorithms
• Learns Pathfinding
• Learns Decision Making
• Learns Computer Architecture
• Learns Construct
• Learns Cocos2d-x
• Knows C/C++
• Knows HTML5
• Knows Lua
• Learns Optics
• Knows Shading
• Knows Area & Environmental Lighting
• Knows Global Illumination
• Knows Pipeline Optimization
• Knows Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Learns Board Games
• Learns Event Management
• Learns Content
• Learns Operating Systems
• Knows Linear Algebra
• Knows Engineering Mathematics
• Learns GameMaker
• Knows Python
• Learns DirectX
• Learns Fluid Mechanics
• Learns Classical Mechanics

Middle Game Developer

Has more than 2 years of experience in software engineering. They need less supervision and minimal reworks.

Skills needed for Middle Game Developer

• Knows Rendering Pipeline
• Knows Pipeline Optimization
• Knows Content
• Knows Execution Management
• Knows Python
• Knows C/C++
• Knows HTML5
• Learns Optics
• Learns Fluid Mechanics
• Knows Vulkan
• Knows Construct
• Knows CryEngine
• Knows Cocos2d-x
• Learns Computer Architecture
• Learns Operating Systems
• Knows Area & Environmental Lighting
• Knows Intersection Test Methods
• Knows Visual Appereance
• Knows Movement
• Knows Board Games
• Knows Event Management
• Knows Decision Making
• Knows Lua
• Does Probability & Statistics
• Does Calculus
• Knows Metal
• Knows Godot
• Knows GameMaker
• Learns Graphics
• Learns System Programming
• Knows Shading
• Knows Image-based Effects
• Knows Transforms
• Knows Global Illumination
• Knows Collision Detection
• Knows Texturing
• Knows Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Does Numerical Analysis
• Does Linear Algebra
• Learns Classical Mechanics
• Knows WebGL
• Knows OpenGL
• Knows GameSalad
• Knows Unity
• Learns AI
• Learns Database Management
• Knows Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Knows Acceleration Algorithms
• Knows Pathfinding
• Knows Tactical & Strategic AI
• Does Discrete Mathematics
• Does Engineering Mathematics
• Knows DirectX
• Knows Unreal

Senior Game Developer

Create expert design concepts, take complex projects and mentor junior engineers. They have 5-8 years of programming experience

Skills needed for Senior Game Developer

• Does Board Games
• Does Tactical & Strategic AI
• Does Execution Management
• Knows Image-based Effects
• Knows Transforms
• Knows Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Knows Rendering Pipeline
• Knows Visual Appereance
• Knows GameSalad
• Knows CryEngine
• Does C/C++
• Does HTML5
• Knows WebGL
• Knows OpenGL
• Knows Vulkan
• Does Probability & Statistics
• Does Numerical Analysis
• Does Movement
• Does Event Management
• Does Content
• Knows Graphics
• Knows AI
• Knows Database Management
• Knows Shading
• Knows Area & Environmental Lighting
• Knows Global Illumination
• Knows Texturing
• Knows Unreal
• Does Python
• Knows DirectX
• Does Discrete Mathematics
• Does Engineering Mathematics
• Does Decision Making
• Knows Computer Architecture
• Knows Collision Detection
• Knows Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Knows Acceleration Algorithms
• Knows Construct
• Knows Cocos2d-x
• Does Lua
• Knows Metal
• Does Fluid Mechanics
• Does Classical Mechanics
• Does Calculus
• Does Pathfinding
• Knows System Programming
• Knows Operating Systems
• Knows Pipeline Optimization
• Knows Intersection Test Methods
• Knows Godot
• Knows GameMaker
• Knows Unity
• Does Optics
• Does Linear Algebra

Staff Engineer Game Developer

To attain this level, it requires more than 10 years of experience. Expert knowledge of the codebase is required.

Skills needed for Staff Engineer Game Developer

• Helps Event Management
• Helps Content
• Does C/C++
• Does Lua
• Does Graphics
• Does AI
• Does Database Management
• Does Transforms
• Does Pipeline Optimization
• Does Intersection Test Methods
• Does Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Does Acceleration Algorithms
• Does GameSalad
• Does CryEngine
• Does Cocos2d-x
• Knows OpenGL
• Knows Vulkan
• Does Classical Mechanics
• Does HTML5
• Does Operating Systems
• Does Shading
• Does Collision Detection
• Does Godot
• Does Unity
• Knows WebGL
• Does Numerical Analysis
• Does Engineering Mathematics
• Helps Movement
• Helps Board Games
• Helps Tactical & Strategic AI
• Helps Execution Management
• Does Python
• Does System Programming
• Does Area & Environmental Lighting
• Does Image-based Effects
• Does Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Does Rendering Pipeline
• Does GameMaker
• Does Construct
• Does Unreal
• Does Fluid Mechanics
• Does Discrete Mathematics
• Does Calculus
• Does Linear Algebra
• Helps Pathfinding
• Helps Decision Making
• Does Computer Architecture
• Does Global Illumination
• Does Visual Appereance
• Does Texturing
• Knows DirectX
• Knows Metal
• Does Optics
• Does Probability & Statistics

Senior Staff Engineer Game Developer

Has approximately 12+ years of experience. Senior Staff Engineers work closely with company leaders, contribute to tech strategy

Skills needed for Senior Staff Engineer Game Developer

• Helps Decision Making
• Helps Content
• Does GameMaker
• Does CryEngine
• Helps Image-based Effects
• Helps Collision Detection
• Does Computer Architecture
• Does AI
• Helps WebGL
• Helps Metal
• Does Probability & Statistics
• Does Linear Algebra
• Does Engineering Mathematics
• Helps Pathfinding
• Does Unity
• Does Cocos2d-x
• Helps Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Helps Acceleration Algorithms
• Does Graphics
• Does System Programming
• Helps Vulkan
• Does Fluid Mechanics
• Does Classical Mechanics
• Helps Movement
• Helps Board Games
• Helps Event Management
• Helps Execution Management
• Does Godot
• Does Construct
• Does GameSalad
• Helps Shading
• Helps Pipeline Optimization
• Helps Texturing
• Does Operating Systems
• Helps Python
• Helps C/C++
• Helps DirectX
• Does Discrete Mathematics
• Does Numerical Analysis
• Helps Tactical & Strategic AI
• Does Unreal
• Helps Area & Environmental Lighting
• Helps Transforms
• Helps Global Illumination
• Helps Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Helps Rendering Pipeline
• Helps Intersection Test Methods
• Helps Visual Appereance
• Does Database Management
• Helps HTML5
• Helps Lua
• Helps OpenGL
• Does Calculus
• Does Optics

Principal Architect Game Developer

The highest level for a technical career. With more than 14 Y of experience, they have a deep understanding of how the tech works

Skills needed for Principal Architect Game Developer

• Helps Lua
• Helps Movement
• Does GameMaker
• Does Construct
• Does Cocos2d-x
• Does Operating Systems
• Helps Area & Environmental Lighting
• Helps Image-based Effects
• Helps Collision Detection
• Helps Texturing
• Does Probability & Statistics
• Does Numerical Analysis
• Helps Vulkan
• Helps Python
• Helps C/C++
• Helps Decision Making
• Does GameSalad
• Does Graphics
• Does System Programming
• Does Computer Architecture
• Helps Global Illumination
• Helps Rendering Pipeline
• Does Discrete Mathematics
• Does Engineering Mathematics
• Helps WebGL
• Helps Metal
• Does Optics
• Does Classical Mechanics
• Helps Board Games
• Helps Event Management
• Helps Tactical & Strategic AI
• Helps Content
• Helps Execution Management
• Does Unity
• Does CryEngine
• Does Database Management
• Helps Shading
• Helps Transforms
• Helps Pipeline Optimization
• Helps Intersection Test Methods
• Helps Visual Appereance
• Helps Acceleration Algorithms
• Does Calculus
• Helps DirectX
• Does Fluid Mechanics
• Helps HTML5
• Helps Pathfinding
• Does Godot
• Does Unreal
• Does AI
• Helps Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Helps Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Does Linear Algebra
• Helps OpenGL

Manager career path for Game Developer

Tech Lead Game Developer

Has more than 7 years of experience. Rather than writing code, they take on the managerial responsibilities and provide sound tech

Skills needed for Tech Lead Game Developer

• Helps Movement
• Helps Board Games
• Helps Execution Management
• Does Area & Environmental Lighting
• Does Image-based Effects
• Does Global Illumination
• Does Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Does Visual Appereance
• Does Acceleration Algorithms
• Helps System Programming
• Helps AI
• Does Optics
• Helps Godot
• Helps Construct
• Helps Unreal
• Does Discrete Mathematics
• Does Probability & Statistics
• Does Linear Algebra
• Helps DirectX
• Helps Vulkan
• Helps Pathfinding
• Helps Decision Making
• Helps Content
• Does Intersection Test Methods
• Does Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Helps Graphics
• Helps GameMaker
• Does Engineering Mathematics
• Helps Python
• Does Shading
• Does Rendering Pipeline
• Does Pipeline Optimization
• Does Collision Detection
• Helps Database Management
• Does Fluid Mechanics
• Does Classical Mechanics
• Helps GameSalad
• Helps Unity
• Helps CryEngine
• Does Calculus
• Helps OpenGL
• Helps HTML5
• Helps Lua
• Helps Event Management
• Helps Tactical & Strategic AI
• Does Transforms
• Does Texturing
• Helps Computer Architecture
• Helps Operating Systems
• Helps Cocos2d-x
• Does Numerical Analysis
• Helps WebGL
• Helps Metal
• Helps C/C++

Engineering Manager Game Developer

Engineering lead manages a larger team. Tech leads report to the engineering lead on their team’s progress, setbacks, and other

Skills needed for Engineering Manager Game Developer

• Helps Global Illumination
• Helps Intersection Test Methods
• Helps Graphics
• Helps System Programming
• Helps Decision Making
• Helps Numerical Analysis
• Helps Linear Algebra
• Helps HTML5
• Helps WebGL
• Helps Vulkan
• Helps Classical Mechanics
• Mentors Godot
• Mentors Cocos2d-x
• Helps Shading
• Helps Rendering Pipeline
• Helps Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Helps Computer Architecture
• Helps Database Management
• Helps Tactical & Strategic AI
• Helps Content
• Helps Discrete Mathematics
• Helps C/C++
• Helps Lua
• Helps OpenGL
• Mentors GameSalad
• Mentors Unity
• Mentors CryEngine
• Mentors Unreal
• Helps Area & Environmental Lighting
• Helps Transforms
• Helps Pipeline Optimization
• Helps Collision Detection
• Helps Visual Appereance
• Helps Acceleration Algorithms
• Helps AI
• Helps Pathfinding
• Helps Movement
• Helps Board Games
• Helps Execution Management
• Helps Engineering Mathematics
• Helps Python
• Helps Metal
• Helps Optics
• Helps Fluid Mechanics
• Mentors GameMaker
• Mentors Construct
• Helps Image-based Effects
• Helps Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Helps Texturing
• Helps Operating Systems
• Helps Event Management
• Helps Probability & Statistics
• Helps Calculus
• Helps DirectX

Engineering Director Game Developer

Has 10+ years of experience and 5+ years of leading a team. Engineering director contributes to the technology R&D

Skills needed for Engineering Director Game Developer

• Mentors GameMaker
• Mentors GameSalad
• Mentors Cocos2d-x
• Helps AI
• Mentors Tactical & Strategic AI
• Mentors Execution Management
• Helps Intersection Test Methods
• Helps Texturing
• Helps Calculus
• Helps Linear Algebra
• Helps OpenGL
• Helps Vulkan
• Mentors Optics
• Mentors Godot
• Mentors Construct
• Mentors Unreal
• Helps Graphics
• Helps System Programming
• Helps Database Management
• Mentors Board Games
• Mentors Event Management
• Helps Python
• Helps HTML5
• Helps Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Helps Rendering Pipeline
• Helps Pipeline Optimization
• Helps Probability & Statistics
• Helps DirectX
• Helps WebGL
• Mentors Fluid Mechanics
• Mentors Unity
• Mentors CryEngine
• Helps Operating Systems
• Mentors Content
• Helps C/C++
• Helps Shading
• Helps Area & Environmental Lighting
• Helps Global Illumination
• Helps Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Helps Computer Architecture
• Mentors Pathfinding
• Mentors Movement
• Mentors Decision Making
• Helps Lua
• Helps Image-based Effects
• Helps Transforms
• Helps Collision Detection
• Helps Visual Appereance
• Helps Acceleration Algorithms
• Helps Discrete Mathematics
• Helps Numerical Analysis
• Helps Engineering Mathematics
• Helps Metal
• Mentors Classical Mechanics

VP of Engineering Game Developer

12+ years of experience in leading engineering teams. Works with the executive team. Spots and remove bottlenecks to achieve goals

Skills needed for VP of Engineering Game Developer

• Mentors GameMaker
• Mentors CryEngine
• Mentors Computer Architecture
• Mentors AI
• Mentors Database Management
• Mentors Python
• Mentors C/C++
• Mentors Lua
• Mentors Movement
• Mentors Content
• Helps Transforms
• Helps Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Helps Rendering Pipeline
• Helps Acceleration Algorithms
• Helps Discrete Mathematics
• Helps Calculus
• Helps Engineering Mathematics
• Mentors Optics
• Mentors Classical Mechanics
• Mentors WebGL
• Mentors Godot
• Mentors HTML5
• Mentors Pathfinding
• Mentors Event Management
• Mentors Tactical & Strategic AI
• Helps Intersection Test Methods
• Helps Collision Detection
• Mentors GameSalad
• Mentors Graphics
• Mentors System Programming
• Helps Shading
• Helps Area & Environmental Lighting
• Helps Image-based Effects
• Helps Global Illumination
• Helps Visual Appereance
• Helps Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Helps Probability & Statistics
• Helps Numerical Analysis
• Mentors DirectX
• Mentors OpenGL
• Mentors Construct
• Mentors Unity
• Mentors Cocos2d-x
• Mentors Unreal
• Mentors Operating Systems
• Mentors Board Games
• Mentors Decision Making
• Mentors Execution Management
• Helps Pipeline Optimization
• Helps Texturing
• Helps Linear Algebra
• Mentors Fluid Mechanics
• Mentors Metal
• Mentors Vulkan

CTO Game Developer

12+ years of experience in leading engineering teams. Works with the executive team. Spots and remove bottlenecks to achieve goals

Skills needed for CTO Game Developer

• Mentors Transforms
• Mentors Curves & Curved Surfaces
• Mentors Intersection Test Methods
• Mentors Collision Detection
• Mentors Pathfinding
• Mentors Movement
• Mentors Board Games
• Mentors Event Management
• Mentors Graphics
• Mentors Database Management
• Mentors Probability & Statistics
• Mentors GameMaker
• Mentors GameSalad
• Mentors CryEngine
• Mentors Image-based Effects
• Mentors Rendering Pipeline
• Mentors Acceleration Algorithms
• Mentors Operating Systems
• Mentors Linear Algebra
• Mentors Engineering Mathematics
• Mentors HTML5
• Mentors Calculus
• Mentors Python
• Mentors C/C++
• Mentors DirectX
• Mentors WebGL
• Mentors Metal
• Mentors Optics
• Mentors Fluid Mechanics
• Mentors Construct
• Mentors Tactical & Strategic AI
• Mentors Decision Making
• Mentors Content
• Mentors Execution Management
• Mentors Computer Architecture
• Mentors AI
• Mentors Discrete Mathematics
• Mentors Numerical Analysis
• Mentors Lua
• Mentors OpenGL
• Mentors Vulkan
• Mentors Classical Mechanics
• Mentors Godot
• Mentors Unity
• Mentors Cocos2d-x
• Mentors Unreal
• Mentors Shading
• Mentors Area & Environmental Lighting
• Mentors Global Illumination
• Mentors Pipeline Optimization
• Mentors Visual Appereance
• Mentors Texturing
• Mentors Non-Photorealistic Rendering
• Mentors System Programming