Software Engineer I - Application FrameworkSony PlaystationSan Mateo, California, United States5 hours agoApplyWhy PlayStation?PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.About the RoleJoin the PlayStation Client Application SDK Team as a Software Engineer I to develop, maintain, and improve the technology that empowers our client-side developers to deliver engaging and high-quality experiences for users on multiple platforms. Your influence will help define the future of PlayStation’s client application SDK.ResponsibilitiesImplement and improve cross-platform framework features and SDKs while collaborating with application teams to meet their feature and performance requirementsMaintain stability, performance, and quality of codebases by defining development standards while using automation to support internal CI/CD workflowsCollaborate with team lead and peers to seek/give feedback on pull requests and technical design documentsInfluence the architecture and performance of client applications, crafting the strategic direction of our SDKWork closely with teams from various functions to meet project requirements and ensure flawless integration across platformsQualificationsExperience writing high-performance and portable C/C++Experience with development on POSIX-complaint OSes and/or mobile platforms is highly desirableFamiliarity with cloud infrastructure and CI/CD pipelinesAdaptable and curious, with a passion for embracing new challenges and technologies in our SDK and developer toolingBonus QualificationsFamiliar with React Native, JavaScript, Python, and/or Linux developmentFamiliar with build system (CMake, Make, Ninja, etc.)Familiar with API and Solution DesignEqual Opportunity Statement:Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, legally protected physical or mental disability, covered veteran status, status in the U.S. uniformed services, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or membership in any other legally protected category.We also understand that you may not apply for a job unless you meet every listed qualification. If you think you might be a good fit, but aren't sure if you "check every box", please apply anyway. We know that dedicated and proficient team members come from diverse sets of backgrounds that may seem "non-standard" — and we encourage that! We also provide an excellent mentorship program to help level up those skills by pairing you up with someone who can help you reach your goals.If you're ready for something new, a chance to be challenged, to learn, and grow, we want to hear from you! Come join us in bringing the happiness of PlayStation to our fans.#LI-AT1Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about how we process your personal information, and your data protection rights.At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.In addition, this role is eligible for SIE’s top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.$133,300 — $199,900 USDEqual Opportunity Statement:Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Principal Level Designer to join an exciting new project and team, taking a guiding role in level design, world-building, and game structure on Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). The project is based at our studio in Sofia, Bulgaria. This can be discussed upon application.The successful candidate will drive strong, compelling level design, that enhances in-game encounters and the overall experience. They will also be responsible for enabling the game's overarching structure and its world architecture to a high standard, working closely with the leads to come up with ideas and processes to help the team to deliver on this.Key ResponsibilitiesOn a day-to-day basis you will:Own and help to define the world design rules, so that the LD's have the best practices and building blocks from which to create the worldBuild and own large features and map areas. Helping to lead and drive direction within the map teamAssist the leads on helping to establish the world’s lore, coordinating with Narrative to ensure we are creating a believable worldHelps to unblock and drive solutions for the level design teamCommunicates across teams, and between internal and external leadershipProvide guidance and mentoring to the level design teamWorks closely with the leads to develop strong processes for validating level design content, being an advocate for playtestingHelps to create User Stories, and contributes to roadmap planning and scope estimatesKnowledge, Skill and ExperienceEssentialExperienced in UE4/5Strong level of autonomy, can manage their own work, and act as a support for the team when neededExperienced building and owning more challenging levels for FPS charactersStrong single-player experience building levels within a narratively driven mission-based structureA highly experienced level designer, with one or more shipped AAA titles in a level design roleProficient at crafting 3d spaces using Unreal based tools, geometry scripting, and or Whitebox quality-based assetsKeen worldbuilding sensibilities that serve the gameplay requirements but also keeps in mind and compliments the artistic goals for the worldHub-like soft skills working and communicating within multi-disciplined feature teams or pods.Be an ambassador for the player experience. Highly tuned to the pacing feel, emotive response and interactive elements within the world and its threats to shape engaging and tense memorable momentsComfortable presenting to internal and external stakeholders, and documenting feedback from both to incorporate into day-to-day task workDesirableExperience developing a game's macro structure and hour-to-hour flowExperience creating a reusable level design library of modular kit piecesExperience in a mentoring roleComfortable planning and writing concise user stories in Jira that outline clear acceptance criteriaHave worked on a game with a focus on survival or stealthAbout Creative AssemblyCreative Assembly crafts deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.We are all game makers and we care deeply about the experiences we create. We empower our teams to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.We are located in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria.We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidaysBespoke relocation package for you and your dependentsPrivate medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screeningGenerous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all Bank holidaysJoin our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led groupSeason ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on siteWellbeing support and virtual confidential counsellingCommunity activities including parties, football and more.Our studio sites have disabled access.We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.Note to Recruitment Agencies: SEGA Europe Limited and our studios do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions from unauthorised third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, SEGA Europe is not liable for any fees, compensation or any other costs associated with the introduction of a candidate or recruitment services unless and until an agreement has been duly executed. Further details can be found here.

Audio ProgrammerSega EuropeHorsham, West Sussex, United Kingdom2 hours agoApplyThis an excellent opportunity to join our growing team at Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex.You will be working as part of the Total War Audio Programming team which provides support across all our franchise projects. You will also collaborate and work alongside our dedicated team of sound designers and dialogue engineers. Supporting a varied number of games, tools and technologies, you will be an integral part of delivering the immersive audio experience our fans have come to expect from our games.This role is Hybrid and has an expectation of a minimum of 2 days per week in our Horsham studio.Key ResponsibilitiesIn the role of Audio Programmer, you will be working with the current Total War team. Using your excellent coding skills and expertise, you will be working and collaborating to improve our existing audio gameplay and craft new and compelling features for future Total War titles.On a day to day basis you will help out our audio team by Implementing new audio gameplay features using Audiokinetic Wwise; Extending our in-house toolset and troubleshooting issues as they arise; Creating and maintaining tools for the sound team to use; and Gameplay feature implementation and tools to help with the audio QA process.Knowledge, Skills and ExperienceEssentialExcellent C++ skillsAbility to focus on work independently but also comfortable working in a collaborative environmentAbility to understand and work to deadlines in a development environmentPassion and interest in making gamesProfessional Audiokinetic Wwise experienceDesirableExperience developing audio systems in games, research or other settingsFamiliarity with Total War games is a definite advantageAbout Creative AssemblyCreative Assembly crafts deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.We are all game makers and we care deeply about the experiences we create. We empower our teams to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.We are located in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria.We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidaysBespoke relocation package for you and your dependentsPrivate medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screeningGenerous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all Bank holidaysJoin our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led groupSeason ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on siteWellbeing support and virtual confidential counsellingCommunity activities including parties, football and more.Our studio sites have disabled access.We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.Note to Recruitment Agencies: SEGA Europe Limited and our studios do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions from unauthorised third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, SEGA Europe is not liable for any fees, compensation or any other costs associated with the introduction of a candidate or recruitment services unless and until an agreement has been duly executed. Further details can be found here. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Senior DevOps Software EngineerCD ProjektWarsaw Masovian Voivodeship pl49 seconds agoApplyJob DescriptionWe are looking for a Senior DevOps Software Engineer who will be responsible for developing and adapting our internal tools and systems both in The Witcher 4 and to support projects across the group. You will cover day to day tools development, supporting developer cooperation, observability, continuous integration and delivery, build storage and sharing, and many more.Daily ResponsibilitiesMaintenance and improvement of the CI/CD system (in-house technology).Maintenance and improvement of existing developer services and tools managed by the team.Optimizing pipelines & processes.Improving services and builds performance.Working closely with the development team to integrate new services and processes.Creating and maintaining documentation of the tools and services managed by the team.QualificationsProficient in C# backend development (ASP.NET Core, .NET 6+, primarily .NET 8).5+ years experience in software development in gaming.Experience in Entity Framework, LINQ.Proficient in Python programming.Knowledge of Postgres or other RDBMS.Experience using source control software (Perforce and git).Demonstrated commitment to taking ownership, setting goals, and driving initiatives independently.Proven track record of effective collaboration, supporting colleagues, and achieving shared goals.Ability to adjust to shifting priorities, handle ambiguity, and excel under pressure.Nice to have:Experience as a Manager or Lead.Knowledge of Unreal Engine.Continuous integration concepts, centralized CI, Perforce.Experience in containerization Docker, Kubernetes.Familiarity with AWS.Knowledge of Eleasticsearch/MongoDB is a plus.Knowledge of Active Directory, security concepts, authentication.Additional InformationWorking modeHybrid or full-time in-office in our Warsaw office.Relocation is required.Relocation supportRelocation package – flight ticket, company apartment for your first month, relocating your pet, shipping your belongings: it’s all covered.Relocation assistance — processing your legalization operations for you, assistance with finding residence, tax settlements - all you need to feel right at home is taken care of.Polish lessons for foreign employees — and for your spouse or partner, too.Paid Leave — from 20 to 26 days of holiday for every team member per year, paid sick leave, and paid maternity & paternity leave.Perks & Professional GrowthFlexible working hours — start your workday anytime between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, external training for each employee, ‘Meet a star’ events, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!Health & Well-beingPrivate medical healthcare — a selection of medical plans with dental care to choose from, which are also accessible for your partner and relatives.Psychological care — free mental health support and various well-being webinars.Multisport card — gain access to a wide number of sporting and fitness facilities across the city.Social Activities & Life in the OfficeDog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.Social events — we host regular gatherings at the studio where we can all unwind, play games, and just have some fun together.Healthy selections — organic fruit, snacks, muesli, organic honey, vegan milk, and speciality coffee are all at your disposal around the studio. Enjoy!Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.Head office in WarsawSustainable campus with an eco ethos — solar panels provide green energy, 2000 plants and an air-filtering system to help provide clean air, electric car charging points, flower meadows, and more green features in the works.An onsite, well-equipped gym with a climbing wall, daily Gym Assistant support and yoga and healthy spine classes.Car and bike parking spaces.A designated space for your bicycle, as well as bicycle repair equipment and showers available whenever you need them.No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.If you've observed any irregularities in our recruitment process please click here to report them.Company DescriptionTo create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members! Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Lead AI ProgrammerSega EuropeHorsham, West Sussex, United Kingdom1 hour agoApplyBased at our well-established studio in Horsham, in the heart of West Sussex, you will be working as a key member of the team on our upcoming Survival title, the sequel to Alien: Isolation.In this role, you will be able to make a real impact on our games, while bringing your knowledge and experience to help push the boundaries of the genre by collaborating with the wider development team striving to make our titles better than ever before.This role is Hybrid and has an expectation of a minimum of 2 days per week in our Horsham studio.Key ResponsibilitiesIn this role you will be required to lead a small team of AI engineers in the development of top-quality AI capabilities for our project.On a day-to-day basis, you will:Act as technical owner and primary point of contact for the project’s AI engineeringWork closely with design, production team and technical directors to ensure all project AI engineering work is identified, well defined, planned and scoped.Collaborate with your team to plan, estimate and author high-quality performant AI codeEnsure features are delivered on time and meet quality expectationsEnsure AI systems are documented and have appropriate auto-testsDebug, diagnose and resolve any problems as they ariseMentor members of your team in their technical and professional development.Knowledge, Skill and Experience:+ EssentialExtensive professional C++ programming experience in the field of AIExperience in using Unreal Engine 4 or 5 on a AAA titleExperience of building sophisticated AI systemsAbility to clearly communicate using a variety of methods to enable effective collaboration.+ DesirablePrevious leadership experienceDevelopment experience on consolesPassionate about games and solving technical problems.About Creative AssemblyCreative Assembly crafts deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.We are all game makers and we care deeply about the experiences we create. We empower our teams to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.We are located in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria.We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidaysBespoke relocation package for you and your dependentsPrivate medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screeningGenerous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all Bank holidaysJoin our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led groupSeason ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on siteWellbeing support and virtual confidential counsellingCommunity activities including parties, football and more.Our studio sites have disabled access.We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.Note to Recruitment Agencies: SEGA Europe Limited and our studios do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions from unauthorised third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, SEGA Europe is not liable for any fees, compensation or any other costs associated with the introduction of a candidate or recruitment services unless and until an agreement has been duly executed. Further details can be found here. Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Collective Architecture, which this year makes its debut in the AJ100, has studios in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, and has retained 80 per cent of its staff since it was founded in 1997. It has a transparent pay scale and does not use traditional job titles and roles up to director level, but instead ‘focuses on developing individual skills and talents’. All employees receive the same benefits from day one of employment and any required overtime is paid. Gensler, which returns to the AJ100 after some years away, pays two bonuses per year in addition to annual reviews and offers private medical and mental health care including additional neurodiversity and menopause support. In 2024, its talent development strategy included presentation skills training for all UK staff, and increased sustainable design and technical training. Corstorphine & Wright operates from 13 studios in the UK. Recent initiatives include a pilot mentoring scheme, a new whistle-blowing hotline and new policies on gender reassignment, dignity at work, and menopause. Maternity/adoption pay has been increased for those with more than two years’ service, with a £3000 return-to-work bonus for those with less. An all-employee bonus scheme gives up to 5 per cent of annual salary. HLM Architects and tp bennett, both regulars on the shortlist, are again finalists. Recent initiatives at 383-strong tp bennett include increased female representation in senior leadership, reverse mentoring for the board and investment in coaching. The practice hosted 100 work experience students in 2024 including 27 students from the Access Aspiration programme, which supports students from more diverse and under-represented backgrounds. HLM Architects has recently introduced annual mandatory EDI-training for everyone and has re-crafted role profiles, introducing a new level to encourage career aspirations. Based across five UK offices and one in Dublin, the practice last year joined the RIBA-EDI Leaders Group, and supported an inclusive recruitment drive to help more care-experienced young people into work. HLM paid an average bonus and salary increase of 7 per cent and enhanced all family leave policies and pay. HTA Design, which has won the award for the past three years, did not enter this year. Sponsored again by Bespoke Careers, the coveted category recognises employer best practice in relation to employment issues such as training, workplace culture, diversity, inclusion, and staff wellbeing and satisfaction. The winners of all the AJ100 awards will be announced in June. AJ100 Employer of the Year 2025 shortlist Collective Architecture Corstorphine & Wright Gensler HLM Architects tp bennett Sponsored by

Senior Community ManagerCD ProjektWarsaw Masovian Voivodeship pl54 minutes agoApplyJob DescriptionWe are looking for a passionate and experienced individual to join our team as a Senior Community Manager. In this role, you will design and execute community activities revolving around our brands and constantly think of innovative ways to engage with the members of our community. You will work on projects within The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 universes, engaging with our global community and ensuring our players experience memorable moments that extend beyond our games.Key Responsibilities:Engage with the community on a daily basis through a variety of owned social media channels and discussion boards.Design, execute, and report on community programs and activities for all projects within The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 universes.Develop strategies to help our channels grow, converting players into engaged community members.Coordinate team efforts to deliver planned communication.Identify and collaborate with the most prominent community members to engage them in various initiatives.Serve as the link between the community and our studio, reporting on key topics and nuances discussed by players regarding our games and other projects in development.Plan, attend, and run dedicated, in-person community events as well as support the company's presence during general industry events.Assist in planning, overseeing, and spending the global community budget effectively.Track, measure, and report on community sentiment as well as growth across owned channels.Qualifications5 years of proven experience as a Community Manager or in a similar role, preferably in the gaming industry.Strong understanding of community engagement and social media management in the video game industry.Experience working on projects in cross-departmental teams and with external parties.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.Very high proficiency in English.Ability to think creatively and strategically.Experience with tracking and reporting on community metrics and sentiment.Familiarity with The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 universes is a plus.Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.Additional InformationWorking modeHybrid: working from the Warsaw studio for a minimum 1 day a week.Perks & Professional GrowthFlexible working hours — start your workday anytime between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, external training for each employee, ‘Meet a star’ events, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!Health & Well-beingPrivate medical healthcare — a selection of medical plans with dental care to choose from, which are also accessible for your partner and relatives.Psychological care — free mental health support and various well-being webinars.Multisport card — gain access to a wide number of sporting and fitness facilities across the city.Social Activities & Life in the OfficeDog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.Social events — we host regular gatherings at the studio where we can all unwind, play games, and just have some fun together.Healthy selections — organic fruit, snacks, muesli, organic honey, vegan milk, and speciality coffee are all at your disposal around the studio. Enjoy!Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.Head office in WarsawSustainable campus with an eco ethos — solar panels provide green energy, 2000 plants and an air-filtering system to help provide clean air, electric car charging points, flower meadows, and more green features in the works.An onsite, well-equipped gym with a climbing wall, daily Gym Assistant support and yoga and healthy spine classes.Car and bike parking spaces.A designated space for your bicycle, as well as bicycle repair equipment and showers available whenever you need them.No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.Relocation supportRelocation package – flight ticket, company apartment for your first month, relocating your pet, shipping your belongings: it’s all covered. Who said moving countries needs to be complicated?Relocation assistance — processing your legalization operations for you, assistance with finding residence, tax settlements, helping out with translations if needed, and much more — we have dedicated teams to help make sure that all you need to feel right at home is taken care of.Polish lessons for foreign employees — and for your spouse or partner, too.Paid Leave — from 20 to 26 days of holiday for every team member per year, paid sick leave, and paid maternity & paternity leave.If you've observed any irregularities in our recruitment process please click here to report them.Company DescriptionTo create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members! Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

For our Financial Transparency theme, independent design executive and educator Rachel Gogel gets into navigating pay disparities, pricing for value, and why true success lies in unlocking human energy, not just income. Rachel Gogel’s career spans some of the most recognisable names in publishing and tech – GQ, The New York Times, Meta – and now, as an independent creative executive, she brings that experience to startups, nonprofits, and purpose-driven ventures alike. But the journey to building a financially sustainable, values-led practice wasn’t always smooth. From $12-an-hour gigs to leading multimillion-dollar design teams, Rachel has faced the realities of wage gaps, client pushback, and burnout culture head-on. In this powerful Q&A, she shares the hard-earned lessons that shaped her pricing philosophy, the tools that helped her take control, and why choosing impact over scale is her definition of success. How did you learn to navigate pricing, salaries, or negotiations in your field? My journey with pricing started from a place of absolute uncertainty. After graduating during the 2009 recession amid a hiring freeze, I took an internship at Diane von Furstenberg for about $20 a day, just trying to get my foot in the door. When they later offered me $12 an hour as a “full-time freelancer,” I thought that was a normal starting point! My first real design contract at Travel + Leisure was $20/hour—which felt like a fortune compared to my internship. Around the same time, I quoted a WordPress project for GQ at $60/hour, originally estimating it would take only 15 hours (I was way off). I still remember sending that first email, nervously suggesting just $900 for the entire project. My contact called me immediately to say, “This is not my money, this is GQ’s money. You should have a $1,000 down payment for taking on the project, then charge an hourly rate after that.” That conversation was a trigger to start taking myself more seriously. With each career move, I learned to negotiate better. From my $70,000 base starting salary at GQ (which I barely negotiated because I was so excited about the offer), to $120,000 as Creative Director at The New York Times, to $230,000 plus stock and bonuses at Facebook—each step taught me to advocate for my worth. When I officially launched my independent design business in 2020, I had this history to draw from, but establishing consistent pricing still involved a lot of trial and error. What transformed my approach was implementing a time tracker (I use Toggl) which helped me gather real data on how long projects actually take versus my estimates. This was eye-opening and gave me confidence in pricing conversations. Today, I maintain a sliding scale across client types and engagement models. My fractional executive work commands $375/hour, while nonprofits start at $200/hour. For my Airbnb creative director maternity coverage contract (40 hours weekly), I’ve structured a $200/hour rate with $300/hour overtime. I’ve also diversified beyond hourly rates to include day rates and project-based fees tailored to specific services. The biggest shift came when I stopped thinking about charging purely for hours and started charging for value—my unique perspective, expertise, and what the work will do for a client’s business. As Jessica Strelioff from Goodside puts it: “We built Goodside to do good work for good people but we also built it to fit into the lives we want to live. Staying small is hard but it’s worth it and it’s what works for us.” This resonated deeply with me as I’ve built a practice focused on quality and impact rather than size. Have you ever experienced pay disparity or financial challenges in your career? Absolutely. Early in my career, I discovered through casual conversations that male colleagues with similar or even less experience were making substantially more than me. That realization was both infuriating and motivating—it pushed me to become more assertive in negotiations and more transparent about compensation (see my Contractor Wrapped 2024 on LinkedIn). Throughout my career trajectory, being a woman in this industry has come with distinct financial challenges. I’ve been challenged during salary negotiations and requests for promotions in ways my male colleagues haven’t. As an independent practitioner, I’ve received comments about being “too expensive” from potential clients—feedback that often makes me wonder if male creatives face the same resistance. These micro-aggressions around compensation reinforce why I encourage women—and all marginalized voices—at every stage of their careers to talk more openly about money so we can help each other get paid equitably. Going independent came with its own financial challenges. The feast-or-famine cycle hit hard, especially in 2023 when clients rescinded contracts and my projected income fell short by about $40K from what I had forecasted. There were months when I questioned everything about my business model. But these challenges taught me to build financial resilience—creating a robust emergency fund, diversifying income streams through teaching and speaking engagements, and being much more strategic about planning for both busy and quiet periods. I’ve had to acknowledge the privilege embedded in my trajectory too—being a 37-year-old white woman in a dual-income household has allowed me to capitalise on opportunities not available to all. The volatility can be stressful, but I’ve learned that transparency about these challenges helps others prepare for similar situations. What’s the best piece of financial advice you’ve received as a creative professional? “If you’re not embarrassed by the amount you’re asking for, you’re not asking for enough.” A friend told me this early in my career, and it completely changed my approach to negotiations. As creatives, especially those of us who identify as women, we often undervalue our contributions. This advice pushed me to recognise my worth and ask for compensation that reflects not just my time, but the unique perspective I bring as a designer working at the intersection of brand, culture, and technology. When I transitioned from in-house roles to founding my San Francisco-based solo consultancy, this advice became even more crucial. What’s often left unsaid is that going independent can be financially empowering—especially for those historically underpaid in conventional roles. By setting our own rates and being transparent about money, we’re not just making a living—we’re thriving. While the business logistics may seem daunting (incorporation, taxes, insurance), the real breakthrough is mental: realising we have the ability to create sustainable businesses on our own terms, often matching or exceeding previous full-time compensation. How do you balance making a living with doing work that feels meaningful? I visualise my work as a Venn diagram of activities that bring me joy, generate income, and create impact. The sweet spot is where all three overlap, but I don’t expect every project to hit that trifecta. My consulting work (about 45% of my time) provides financial stability and allows me to be selective about other opportunities. I deliberately allocate time for teaching at California College of the Arts (15%), mentoring and volunteering (20% combined), and both speaking and writing (20% combined). While these non-consulting activities may not always be as financially lucrative, they fulfill my desire to support the next generation of creatives, contribute to causes I believe in, and share my perspective with wider audiences. I’ve learned to say no to projects that might pay well but don’t align with my values or wouldn’t allow me to do my best work. This has sometimes meant walking away from significant income, but it’s preserved my energy for more meaningful opportunities like collaborating with women-founded ventures such as A Space, In Between, Acora, Anew, and Chicken & Egg Films. Success isn’t necessarily about scaling up, and growth doesn’t always mean expansion. For me, it means intentionally keeping things small and intimate. There’s power in being selective; there’s wisdom in recognizing that sometimes, less is more—especially in a society that subconsciously breeds burnout, and women especially are not giving themselves permission to rest. As Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO of Acumen, once asked: “What if we measured true success not by the amount of money you have, but by the amount of human energy you unlock, the amount of potential you enable? If that were our metric, our world would be a different place.” This question has become central to how I approach my solo venture. For me, it’s always been about depth of impact rather than breadth of reach.

Senior Community ManagerCD ProjektWarsaw Masovian Voivodeship pl2 hours agoApplyJob DescriptionWe are looking for a passionate and experienced individual to join our team as a Senior Community Manager. In this role, you will design and execute community activities revolving around our brands and constantly think of innovative ways to engage with the members of our community. You will work on projects within The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 universes, engaging with our global community and ensuring our players experience memorable moments that extend beyond our games.Key Responsibilities:Engage with the community on a daily basis through a variety of owned social media channels and discussion boards.Design, execute, and report on community programs and activities for all projects within The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 universes.Develop strategies to help our channels grow, converting players into engaged community members.Coordinate team efforts to deliver planned communication.Identify and collaborate with the most prominent community members to engage them in various initiatives.Serve as the link between the community and our studio, reporting on key topics and nuances discussed by players regarding our games and other projects in development.Plan, attend, and run dedicated, in-person community events as well as support the company's presence during general industry events.Assist in planning, overseeing, and spending the global community budget effectively.Track, measure, and report on community sentiment as well as growth across owned channels.Qualifications5 years of proven experience as a Community Manager or in a similar role, preferably in the gaming industry.Strong understanding of community engagement and social media management in the video game industry.Experience working on projects in cross-departmental teams and with external parties.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.Very high proficiency in English.Ability to think creatively and strategically.Experience with tracking and reporting on community metrics and sentiment.Familiarity with The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 universes is a plus.Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.Additional InformationWorking modeHybrid: working from the Warsaw studio for a minimum 1 day a week.Perks & Professional GrowthFlexible working hours — start your workday anytime between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, external training for each employee, ‘Meet a star’ events, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!Health & Well-beingPrivate medical healthcare — a selection of medical plans with dental care to choose from, which are also accessible for your partner and relatives.Psychological care — free mental health support and various well-being webinars.Multisport card — gain access to a wide number of sporting and fitness facilities across the city.Social Activities & Life in the OfficeDog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.Social events — we host regular gatherings at the studio where we can all unwind, play games, and just have some fun together.Healthy selections — organic fruit, snacks, muesli, organic honey, vegan milk, and speciality coffee are all at your disposal around the studio. Enjoy!Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.Head office in WarsawSustainable campus with an eco ethos — solar panels provide green energy, 2000 plants and an air-filtering system to help provide clean air, electric car charging points, flower meadows, and more green features in the works.An onsite, well-equipped gym with a climbing wall, daily Gym Assistant support and yoga and healthy spine classes.Car and bike parking spaces.A designated space for your bicycle, as well as bicycle repair equipment and showers available whenever you need them.No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.Relocation supportRelocation package – flight ticket, company apartment for your first month, relocating your pet, shipping your belongings: it’s all covered. Who said moving countries needs to be complicated?Relocation assistance — processing your legalization operations for you, assistance with finding residence, tax settlements, helping out with translations if needed, and much more — we have dedicated teams to help make sure that all you need to feel right at home is taken care of.Polish lessons for foreign employees — and for your spouse or partner, too.Paid Leave — from 20 to 26 days of holiday for every team member per year, paid sick leave, and paid maternity & paternity leave.If you've observed any irregularities in our recruitment process please click here to report them.Company DescriptionTo create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members! Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply

Senior Rendering EngineerCD ProjektWarsaw Masovian Voivodeship pl2 hours agoApplyJob DescriptionCD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Rendering Engineer to join our team to work on Cyberpunk 2, the next major video game in the Cyberpunk franchise. In this role, you will become part of the team responsible for developing rendering solutions and optimizations to enable designers and artists to deliver the vision of the game.Responsibilities:Maintaining and optimizing existing rendering systems.Developing new rendering solutions for large-scale problems.Working closely with art teams to provide performant and effective solutions.Bringing our characters and worlds to life with your rendering knowledge.Optimizing performance & memory utilization.Qualifications7+ years of industry experience.Fluent C++ and in-depth experience with graphics programming are essential.Professional knowledge of Unreal Engine, preferably a shipped title with UE technology.Extensive knowledge of rendering techniques and GPU/CPU architecture.Comprehensive multithreaded programming experience.Experience with one or more low-level graphics API (DirectX12, Vulkan, console, etc.).Thorough experience with at least one graphics debugging tool (RenderDoc, Pix, console-specific, etc.)Experience with low-level profiling and optimization.Effective communication skills, responsibility, sense of ownership and dedication for work.A proactive attitude towards helping the team to get their work done faster and more efficiently.Nice to have:Shipped at least one Unreal-based project.Additional InformationWorking modeFor this role you can choose between a remote-first or office-first working mode.Office-First: working primarily from the Warsaw, Wroclaw, or Cracow office for a minimum of 10 days per month.Remote-First: working from home, or from any location that is within 3 hours of the GMT+3 time zone.Perks & Professional GrowthFlexible working hours — start your workday anytime between 8:00 and 10:00 AM.A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, external training for each employee, ‘Meet a star’ events, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!Health & Well-beingPrivate medical healthcare — a selection of medical plans with dental care to choose from, which are also accessible for your partner and relatives.Psychological care — free mental health support and various well-being webinars.Multisport card — gain access to a wide number of sporting and fitness facilities across the city.Social Activities & Life in the OfficeDog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.Social events — we host regular gatherings at the studio where we can all unwind, play games, and just have some fun together.Healthy selections — organic fruit, snacks, muesli, organic honey, vegan milk, and speciality coffee are all at your disposal around the studio. Enjoy!Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.Head office in WarsawSustainable campus with an eco ethos — solar panels provide green energy, 2000 plants and an air-filtering system to help provide clean air, electric car charging points, flower meadows, and more green features in the works.An onsite, well-equipped gym with a climbing wall, daily Gym Assistant support and yoga and healthy spine classes.Car and bike parking spaces.A designated space for your bicycle, as well as bicycle repair equipment and showers available whenever you need them.No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.Relocation supportRelocation package – flight ticket, company apartment for your first month, relocating your pet, shipping your belongings: it’s all covered. Who said moving countries needs to be complicated?Relocation assistance — processing your legalization operations for you, assistance with finding residence, tax settlements, helping out with translations if needed, and much more — we have dedicated teams to help make sure that all you need to feel right at home is taken care of.Polish lessons for foreign employees — and for your spouse or partner, too.Paid Leave — from 20 to 26 days of holiday for every team member per year, paid sick leave, and paid maternity & paternity leave.If you have observed any irregularities in our recruitment process please click here to report them.Company DescriptionTo create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members! Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings. Apply