Lead Console Developer

Hands-on technical lead owning both Xbox Series X|S and PS5 platform integration — certification, SDK lifecycle, submission packaging, and crash/stability debugging. Not a management role. They write code daily, own both cert pipelines, and debug on codebases they didn't build.

Must Have :

• 10+ years professional game development
• Minimum 5 years on console (Xbox / PlayStation)
• Shipped at least one title through Xbox certification (XR) — personally owned platform integration and submission
• Shipped at least one title through PlayStation certification (TRC) — personally owned it (doesn't need to be the same title)
• Unity on console — IL2CPP builds, platform-dependent compilation, Unity Input System, on-device profiling
• Xbox GDK — MicrosoftGame.config, Submission Validator, Xbox Identity, achievements, PLM (suspend/resume/constrained)
• PS5 SDK — param.json/sfo, Check, Prospero tools, Trophies, save-data API, system-language detection
• Experience shipping on codebases they did not build — ports, rescues, takeovers
• Currently coding — if they haven't committed code in the last year, wrong role

Good to Have :

• Worked at a porting/outsourcing earlier
• Unity version migration on console (LTS upgrades, plugin breakage after SDK updates)
• Middleware — Wwise/FMOD, Rewired, analytics SDKs, platform store/social plugins
• PS5 DualSense — haptics, adaptive triggers, controller speaker
• Xbox and PS5 Accessibility guidelines implementation
• On-device profiling — Razor GPU profiler (PS5), PIX (Xbox)

Preferred Not Mandatory :

• Unreal Engine console experience in addition to Unity
• Multiplayer / online services — PlayFab, Xbox Live, PSN
• PS5 Trinity support configuration
• Experience mentoring junior console developers

Please note: This position is for one of Playdawn's clients, and successful candidates will be hired directly by the client, not by Playdawn.

Our client is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics. They believe that diversity fuels innovation and creativity, and they strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to shared success.