Are you passionate about games? Do you want to help game developers push technology further than ever before? Do you want to help define the platforms that the game developers of the future can build on?
The Xbox Advanced Technology Group (ATG) is the bridge that links Microsoft game platforms, such as Xbox One and Windows 10, with key game developers worldwide: from indie teams crafting unique artistic visions, to the biggest AAA franchises. We provide developer-facing services that range from deep performance analysis and optimization through to code samples and white papers. We engage with both individual developers, through on-site visits, and with the world-wide development community, through presentations at conferences and through our support forums. And we work closely with partner teams within Microsoft to refine our platforms to better meet the needs of developers: now and in the future.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer with expertise in graphics performance optimization, GPU architecture, and real-time rendering techniques to join our Tokyo team and support game developers in Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Working in partnership with ATG's graphics specialists in the UK and USA, and with Microsoft's other graphics teams, the candidate will help our development partners bring new levels of graphical fidelity, impact and performance to their games. Prior experience in game or game engine development is strongly preferred.
The primary role of ATG is to help developers ship great games on Microsoft platforms:
- We educate: through samples, tutorials, forum posts and white papers.
- We assist: identifying and helping to resolve issues in both games and - through our close relationships with core Xbox, Windows, and Graphics teams - in our platforms and tools.
- We optimize: applying our deep knowledge of graphics architecture and tools like PIX to make games as visually striking and performant as they can be.
The ideal ATG engineer is both a strongly self-motivated technical expert and a passionate communicator: as comfortable in deep one-to-one technical discussions with the best minds in the games industry as they are presenting in front of an audience at a conference.
Responsibilities
- Analyze graphics performance using tools like PIX, and provide clear, actionable feedback to developers to improve performance or increase visual impact and fidelity
- Research and develop cutting-edge graphical techniques, with clear focus on what is effective and appropriate on "real world" console and PC hardware
- Work closely with Microsoft's 1st and 3rd Party Publishing groups to drive technical issues raised by game developers with appropriate teams across Microsoft
- Understand and align solutions to the business needs of the platform
- Author and deliver technical presentations at game developer conferences
- This position entails travel amounting to about 10% of the working year
Qualifications
- Experience in one or more of the following: DirectX, GPU performance optimization, HLSL, advanced graphics techniques
- Strong technical background, including a B.S. in Computer Science or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of programming experience (C or C++ preferred)
- Experience in a development role for games on one or more of Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows, or other console or mobile game platforms
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Sufficient fluency in both Japanese and English to work independently in both English-only and Japanese-only working environments
- Demonstrated experience in the areas of creative problem solving, working through ambiguity, and effective one-to-one and one-to-many communication
- Passion for game development and associated technology
ATG is an international team, with members in Tokyo, London, UK and Redmond, USA. While the working language of the Tokyo office is Japanese, competence in English is a requirement, and knowledge of regionally relevant languages such as Korean or Chinese would be highly beneficial.
Formal qualifications in Japanese are not required, but non-Japanese native speakers should have sufficient ability in Japanese to be able to work independently within the Tokyo office, and on-site with our Japanese development partners as required (roughly JLPT N3 or higher).
