Senior Games Developer

Overview

Arkadium is seeking an experienced Senior Games Developer to support one of our top clients, Microsoft, on a suite of top-performing games collaborating with the Microsoft Casual Games team.

The Microsoft Casual Games (MCG) Studio is focused on delivering the best casual games for Windows, Web, and Mobile platforms. Dedicated to delivering quality game experiences to worldwide fans. In this role you will be accountable for building performant, scalable, and maintainable code that supports core game systems and feature delivery. You’ll partner with cross-functional teams to enhance player experiences through clean architecture, reusability, and continuous technical improvement.

Candidates must be available to work standard hours from 09:00 to 18:00 in the Western European Time (WET) zone — (Portugal time zone), where most of the Engineering and Product teams are based.

Additionally, candidates should be open to regularly working U.S. hours to accommodate cross-timezone meetings.

For candidates not residing in Portugal, you will be onboarded as a contractor through our international payroll provider.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain high-quality software that meets product requirements, quality standards, and deadlines, taking full ownership of the features you develop.
• Clarify requirements and success criteria early to ensure alignment, anticipating potential issues during planning.
• Collaborate with design, art, and backend teams to integrate assets, gameplay features, and external services, while helping improve team processes through clear communication.
• Uphold code quality by following standards, writing tests, and performing thorough checks before release.
• Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code, using modern engineering practices and reusable design.
• Develop modular and reliable gameplay components that support core features and scalable systems, with strong organization and accountability.
• Debug, profile, and optimize game performance to ensure a smooth experience across browsers and devices.
• Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and planning sessions, offering constructive feedback and technical insight.
• Continuously improve workflows, build pipelines, and automation to increase efficiency and codebase health.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in game development, preferably with web-based or cross-platform games.
• Experience with JavaScript and TypeScript, or prior hands-on experience using them.
• Deep understanding of software architecture, design patterns, and scalable front-end systems.
• Experience with rendering frameworks (e.g., PixiJS, Three.js) or game frameworks and engines (e.g., Phaser, Unity, Godot, etc.).
• Familiarity with Agile workflows, version control systems (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and collaborative tools (e.g., Jira, GitHub).
• Strong debugging, optimization, and performance profiling skills for browsers and mobile devices.
• Solid testing discipline, including unit and performance testing.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills, with the ability to anticipate potential risks and raise technical considerations early during planning.
• Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of features or projects, with a proactive mindset and commitment to quality and timely delivery

Nice to Have

• Experience with Unity.
• Familiarity with LiveOps, telemetry, and feature experimentation pipelines.
• Knowledge of game and web services, REST APIs, and backend systems integration.
• Exposure to real-time services, multiplayer, networking, or cross-device synchronization challenges.
• Experience with authoritative multiplayer implementations or hybrid client-server architectures.

Benefits

We offer:

• Competitive compensation with structured performance and career development check-ins
• Health insurance
• Additional budget for conferences you are interested in
• Personal development budget to fuel your passions and desire to learn (Arkadians are taking classes in not only Excel and leadership, but also interior design and even swimming!)
• Time off from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day so we can all enjoy the holidays
• A unique culture of transparency, true teamwork and fun
• Summer Fridays: Fridays off throughout the Summer to have more fun in the sun!

The above benefits may vary depending on location or country.

This is a 1‑year, temporary contract position. Candidates outside of Portugal will be engaged via Arkadium’s international payroll provider.