Seeking to hire a game engine developer

[jasonp]

Well, once you release the game to the public, all* of the code must be open sourced (GPL2 or 3 iirc).

I agree the GPL license is a problem here.

But that's ok. I was leaning towards creating an engine from scratch because of the unique features it needs.

The main problems, or lack of motivation for popularization of open source games is that a lot of what makes a game is content or game specific mechanics.

Fortunately we don't need significant content/art development.

[smoth]

guess open source games/engines haven't yet been seen commercially feasible for bigger companies.

I want to understand this. Is licensing the problem? Or are open source game engines somehow inferior or lacking technically?

This is a chicken and egg thing. You have to have the money to advertise, or you have to get really lucky like minecraft did. If you have a big name, that can help.

Utimately small studios and OS projects have no real market presense, be it established IP(halo, cod), advertisements(look at the wow ads, they have NOTHING to do with what the actual game is). This is all very tangential and belongs in another thread.

JasonP, I think the biggest problem you will have is that we don't have a lot of guys with the range of OS experience you need along with being an engine dev. Although, the thread has kind gone around and around to the point I am not sure what you are looking for, so maybe I am just confused. Not that I am an engine type, but it may be good to make a new clearer post taking into account what has been discussed, what you are looking for, whether or not internationals are an option etc. Otherwise you may be better spending time elsewhere recruiting. People here on this site are very fond of talking and seldom doing anything so you may end up spending long blocks of conversation into nowhere if you don't refocus the thread.

[jasonp]

Not that I am an engine type, but it may be good to make a new clearer post taking into account what has been discussed, what you are looking for, whether or not internationals are an option etc.

We are seeking to hire one or more developers to design and develop a RTS game engine for initial use on Android phones. The majority of the engine should be developed in C++ and built with the Android NDK, providing a portability path to also support Linux, Windows/Cygwin, possibly iOS and possibly other current and future platforms. Obviously Java / Android API code will be necessary to host an NDK based engine. This engine will prioritize efficiency, effective polygon count management (automatic level of detail) and include several unique and proprietary features, some of which favor or require an engine implemented in C++.

We are mainly looking for US citizens based in the US.

[Silentwings]

I too think that headhunting devs from a long term, small, open source, volunteer driven project is inappropriate.

Although I appreciate your honesty in posting this in the forum rather than pm-ing devs, if your employer wants to headhunt, tell him/her to advertise properly and not do it the cheapskate way.

Having said that, I know some (non-dev) people have used work they made in spring to get themselves jobs, which is good, as long as its their own choice to go looking. But volunteers are precious and stealing them is bad :)

[Johannes]

I can't really see it as "stealing", nobodys picking a job against their will. It's merely letting people know of an option for them - whether they see it here or elsewhere isn't that important.

You could look at it from another direction and argue that people (ofc not everyone) can be more motivated to work on OS projects when they know it may present them with career options in the future.

[jasonp]

Consider hiring one part-time US developer who can then act a a proxy and delegate tasks either to us or like-minded people you come across, wherever they are. Likely better results, possibly cheaper, and communication should not be an issue as long as you avoid Asia.

Not sure that's possible for the reason stated below.

and there's the carnegie mellon attendee.

Nice to see some CMU people here. I have a degree from CMU.

Why are you seeking a US citizen? For administrative reasons? Be advised that obtaining a green card is usually straight forward for many Europeans, especially if you already have a job contract.

Because the employee may be required to obtain and maintain a US Security Clearance. Look here for details on eligibility: http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10978.htm

Specifically regarding non US citizens:

"2. Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to receive a security clearance from the State Department?
As outlined in Executive Order 12968, Access to Classified Information, eligibility for access to classified information may only be granted to employees who are United States citizens. However, an exception is allowed in specific situations wherein there are compelling reasons for limited access to be granted to an immigrant alien or foreign national employee who possess a special expertise that is needed for specific programs, projects, contracts, licenses, certificates, or grants."

(from http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10977.htm#2 )

[jasonp]

I too think that headhunting devs from a long term, small, open source, volunteer driven project is inappropriate.

If you want me to leave, delete the thread, promise not to hire any Spring developers just let me know. I don't want to be inappropriate or disruptive.

if your employer wants to headhunt, tell him/her to advertise properly and not do it the cheapskate way.

We do. My purpose here is not to be cheap. I like Spring and thought I'd at least get some opinions.

But volunteers are precious and stealing them is bad :)

I would never do anything to harm Spring. In fact I think Spring is an amazing project and would like to help it personally. Sadly my free time is extremely limited these days. Maybe I'll just donate financially.

I don't see how advertising an employment opportunity equates to stealing, let alone something bad. I've not done a survey, but aren't a lot of open source contributors/volunteers also employed? What about all the contributors/volunteers that could not be a contributor/volunteer unless they were also employed? For example, developers who support a family or those who face a higher cost of living?

[PicassoCT]

the problem is that this is a all to often one way road. You want to get employed, sign that nda right over there, no open sourcing more for you chap, cause you ll be leaking company secrets then. Dont want to let your family down like this?

So why should we have warmth and welcome greetings for someone singing the high-praise for the land of no return? If you want to win the hearts and minds of a open source comunity, encourage your trainees to spend time on our source.

On the other hand, what you do aint illegal or against board rules, so feel free to continue. Companys are advertising all over university anyway, so i guess hiring here is just as acceptable.

[knorke]

I do not see how the thread is inappropriate or "lame."
It is a joboffer like any other ad in a newspaper or other medium, not a kidnapping.

[Jools]

I agree.

[PicassoCT]

No stain on our over-dramaqueen honor.

Still, maybee tobi would interested in this? I mea, he has a job in CA now, but maybe not at a games company..

[MidKnight]

I agree with knorke.

[abma]

news.jpg (45.02 KiB) Viewed 7631 times

*scnr*

to get back on topic: most active devs have noticed this thread i guess...

the current active engine devs are all in europe, mostly germany and sweden.

[jasonp]

the problem is that this is a all to often one way road. You want to get employed, sign that nda right over there, no open sourcing more for you chap, cause you ll be leaking company secrets then.

That's an exceptionally unfair characterization. We're not a paranoid or asshole company that automatically equates "open sourcing" with "leaking company secrets". Most developers should know the difference here. An honest developer who might be unclear should merely check with their management. This is a non-issue for honest developers.

Obviously developers who don't understand the difference, don't ask management for clarification, and then foolishly leak proprietary intellectual property through their open source work are a problem and would not be employable.

So why should we have warmth and welcome greetings for someone singing the high-praise for the land of no return?

Perhaps at least because you're flat-out wrong about "land of no return"?

And in addition, there is legal precedent established by US court rulings for an employee's right to employment in a field of their expertise that supersedes employment contracts. Say you specialize in game engine design, you sign an NDA and non-compete with employer X and work there a while. You leave X and go to employer Y (or work for yourself, or contribute full-time to an OS project) also doing game engine design. As long as you did not actually violate X's NDA and non-compete, you can not be sued simply because you used your special skills (game engine design) at both X and Y for gainful employment. Employers can not deny employees the right to use their skills for gain.

Furthermore, if X's non-compete happened to contain wording like "you may not engage in game design for 5 years", a court would invalidate it. I know this because a former employer had wording like this in a non-compete I signed. My attorney preemptively challenged it. My former employer's attorney realized it was improper, removed that portion of the non-compete and had all its current employees sign new non-compete agreements!

If you want to win the hearts and minds of a open source comunity, encourage your trainees to spend time on our source.

I'll try.

[AF]

• Where in the USA
• How long has your employer been in business
• Has your employer had successful past ventures in this field
• What other vacancies are available
• How big will the team be when finalised, estimates okay if no specific figure is available
• Expected living costs
• How much would you be willing to aid in relocation costs
• How many people have previously filled the position
• Expected standard working hours ( not including overtime )
• Eventual planned release ( would I be spending the next 5 months or the next 2 years of my life working there? )
• Where else have you advertised?

Do keep in mind that this is a public forum and as such there will be plenty of frivolity, trolly behaviour, and injokes.

[jasonp]

•Where in the USA
midwest / south

•How long has your employer been in business
>20 years

•Has your employer had successful past ventures in this field
Yes

•What other vacancies are available
Many

•How big will the team be when finalised, estimates okay if no specific figure is available
Team is currently at 3 developers. Anticipate growing to 5 to 15. I was the first developer on this project.

•Expected living costs
Generally much lower than US West / East coast. Nice 3 bedroom houses with 30 minute commute can be purchased for about $80,000. Equivalent west coast / east cost house would be 2 to 5 times that. Yet compensation is similar. Many people can save 1/2 their income.

•How much would you be willing to aid in relocation costs
Possibly negotiable depending on qualifications, experience, etc.

•How many people have previously filled the position
None. Its a new position.

•Expected standard working hours ( not including overtime )
40 hours/week, salaried. Overtime not required. Overtime pay must be authorized by management. Same rate for overtime pay. Can flex hours significantly within a 2 week (80 hour) pay period. 9 paid holidays/year. 19 sick+leave days per year with rollover.

•Eventual planned release ( would I be spending the next 5 months or the next 2 years of my life working there? )
First release in January/February 2013.

•Where else have you advertised?
Positions on my project have not been publicly announced yet. We are speaking to people privately.

I apologize I can not give exact answers because we operate in a competitive business environment. Answering these questions publicly presents me with a conflict between being accurate and revealing (for your benefit) and maintaining sufficient privacy (for our benefit).

12/5 EDIT: provided additional details

[SwiftSpear]

On some level I'm honored to see a thread like this actually, for the record :)

We've had a lot of different developers contribute to the project over the years, however, I can't recall one specifically that would meet all the requirements you're posing. The majority of spring developers have been European as was stated before. However, I've always been more the forum and community maintenance guy, so there could be individuals I'm forgetting.

Thanks for your interest in the project Jasonp! It would absolutely make my day if I were to find out a spring contributor got their foot in the door to the games industry from the reputation they built up here.

[maackey]

I also think its great that contributors to Spring can get a job offer for their work in an open-source community project. If I had the requisite skills/experience I would jump at the opportunity. I don't suppose you have any entry-level positions/internships for undergraduate students with expected graduation in the spring of 2013?

Regardless, the job descriptions sounds interesting... apparently lots of companies are developing mobile applications for everything (coincidentally I just finished a final presentation this morning for my senior project involving a mobile application to measure vital signs)

Its also nice that you are looking to support multiple platforms, my school has a partnership with Microsoft so there are lots of interesting workshops etc. that I am unable to effectively participate in because I'm running linux on my laptop. MonoDev works great until you start adding in closed libraries and tools.