About me.
I am a Game Developer and Software Engineer. My work bridges narrative, systems, and design, crafting digital experiences that harmonize intent, structure, and visual identity. My core focus is on transforming conceptual ideas into clear, functional, and playable products, synthesizing creation, direction, and technical execution.
Beyond game development, my expertise extends to software and digital product development. I have collaborated with multidisciplinary teams, led project deliveries, and driven solutions from concept through to launch across both professional and academic initiatives.
My background integrates practical application, research, and real-world experience across diverse projects, ranging from narrative games to full-scale digital platforms. I consistently strive to balance clarity, functionality, and creative expression in every endeavor.
ACADEMIA & ACHIEVEMENTS.
My academic foundation in Software Engineering is reinforced by specialized certifications in Game Design, Narrative Development, and Technical Project Management. This background bridges formal engineering principles with hands-on expertise in industry-standard tools and methodologies, ensuring a structured approach to creative and technical challenges
Bachelor's Degree in Software Engineering at the Federal University of Ceará (Feb. 2023/Dec 2027).
• Involvement in research and development projects focused on games.
• Systems prototyping, creation of interactive experiences, and digital narrative.
• Work within multidisciplinary academic teams, integrating engineering, art, and design.
• Production of functional solutions for university-based experimentation and study.Technical High School Degree in IT at EEEP Professor Walquer Cavalcante Maia (Jan. 2020/Dec. 2022).
• Initial training in logic and programming fundamentals.
• Systems development and software engineering concepts.
• Practiced good application modeling, organization, and structuring techniques.
• Participation in school projects applied to real-world problem-solving.Voxy Proficiency Achievement Certificate - Intermediate (2026).
Game Development and Prototyping - Epic Games (2025).
Stories and Narratives for Video Games - California Institute of the Arts (2025).
Agile Project Management Professional Certificate - Google (2024/2025).
Unity 3D with C# - Udemy (2024).
AWS Academy Graduate - Cloud Foundations (2022).
Bronze Medal in Brazilian Astronomy Olympiad (OBA, Level 3) (2022).
EXPERIENCE & DEVELOPMENT
My professional trajectory is defined by the intersection of Technical Leadership and Systems Engineering, with a specialized focus on Game Direction and Narrative Design. I lead multidisciplinary teams to transform complex concepts into functional digital artifacts, balancing high-level creative vision with rigorous engineering standards. My experience ranges from developing scalable backend architectures for global brands to overseeing end-to-end game production and conducting technical evaluations for AAA titles.
Lead Game Designer at LearningLab (Oct. 2025/Present).
• Game Concepting: ideation and definition of medium-scope educational games.
• Mechanics & Systems: design of gameplay mechanics aimed at reinforcing high-school curriculum content.
• Educational Design: translation of academic subjects into interactive learning experiences.
• Prototyping: creation, testing, and iteration of playable prototypes.
• Project Documentation: development of clear design documents to support production and team workflow.Lead Game Director at VORTEX UFC (Jan. 2025/Present).
• Narrative Direction: defining story, tone, atmosphere, and worldbuilding.
• Game Design: creation of mechanics, puzzles, loops, game pacing, and balancing.
• Level Design: conception of environments, spatial logic, and player flow.
• Team Coordination: task organization and interdisciplinary alignment.
• Technical Supervision (Unity Engine): integration of systems, scenes, assets, and lighting.QA / Technical Game Tester - Technical Playtest at an AAA Studio (NDA) (Jan. 2025/Jun. 2025).
• Identification of unexpected behavior, inconsistencies, and mechanical failures.
• In-depth analysis of visual, audio, and haptic feedback, assessing clarity and intent.
• Evaluation of gameplay loops, pacing, flow between actions, and overall feel.
• Structured logging of bugs, performance bottlenecks, and usability issues.
• Suggestions for improvement related to controls, navigation, and interface legibility.
• Technical feedback on stability and the practical impact of design decisions.Junior Backend Software Engineer at YEEZY (USA) - Freelancer (Jan. 2024/Jun. 2024).
• Implemented backend services that power the application.
• Built internal routines for content publishing and updating.
• Collaborated with an international team, delivering features in short cycles.
• Direct involvement in the product's logic, integration, and data structure.
• Contributed to the definition of workflows to improve stability and performance.Team Lead & Software Engineer at Bionic Productions - Freelancer (Jul. 2023/Jan. 2024).
• Team Leadership.
• Functional system development, aligning requirements with technical feasibility.
• Involvement in the product's architecture, logic, and organization.
• Delivery within strict deadlines and supervision of corrections and improvements.
• Direct communication with the client and team throughout the development process.Full-Stack Software Developer at Ecatege Contabilidade e Serviços - Internship (Jul. 2022/Jan. 2023).
• Full-stack involvement in the complete software lifecycle: ideation, prototyping, implementation, and deployment.
• Development of system interfaces, screens, and logic.
• Structuring of data flow and internal business rules.
• Ongoing support and adaptations based on company needs.
PROJECTS & ARTIFACTS.
Beyond professional titles, my work is best expressed through the artifacts I build. This portfolio of projects serves as a technical archive of my capabilities in gameplay prototyping, backend architecture, and immersive worldbuilding. Every entry from a procedural horror experience to an automated news service represents a unique solution to a specific structural or narrative challenge.
Pecador, Contempla. - Global Game Jam 2026 (Feb 2026).
• Solo Developer / Lead Designer.
• Developed a procedural psychological horror FPS in 72 hours using Unity and C#.
• Engineered a persistent audio system with dynamic filters and NavMesh-based AI behaviors.
• Implemented custom PSX shaders and post-processing effects to emulate retro 32-bit aesthetics.Project XR (Working Title) (2025/Present).
• Kart-racing game developed at the Federal University of Ceará.
• Focus on gameplay mechanics, level design, and prototyping.
• Oversaw integration of Unity-based systems.Project V (Working Title) (2025/Present).
• Narrative-puzzle game developed at the Federal University of Ceará.
• Directed narrative, gameplay mechanics, and worldbuilding.
• Oversaw integration of Unity-based systems.YEWS (2024).
• Mobile-first news platform for YEEZY.
• Implemented backend services with Node.js and Redis.
• Contributed to editorial content automation.Custom Software Solution (2023).
• Internal tool developed in Bionic Productions.
• Led backend development and system design.
• Delivered to a partner company under strict deadlines.Accounting Internal Software (2022).
• Management tool for Ecatege Accounting.
• Contributed to full-stack development from concept to deployment.
TECHNOLOGIES & TOOLS.
My work is supported by tools that expand creative possibilities. I focus on integrating engines, pipelines, and technologies that accelerate prototyping, elevate visual quality, and maintain precise execution, from environment construction to gameplay design. I use every tool as a direct extension of the idea: fast, functional, and always in service of the player experience.
In addition to the tools I use for game creation, my work extends to software and web application development. Modern engines, libraries, databases, frameworks, and stacks are part of my daily flow, operating as a single creative ecosystem.Everything I build, be it a 3D environment or a functional system in production, stems from the combination of these technologies. This is how I expand the scope of my work: by integrating design, code, and narrative across any platform.
CONTACT.
The core of my work, be it a game, a system, or an interactive experience, is driven by one commitment: CREATING WITH PURPOSE.
I specialize in transforming ideas into worlds, mechanics into meaning, and technology into real impact. If your project demands technical excellence, creative vision, leadership, or strong narrative direction, I find the way forward. This portfolio is a glimpse of what I build. If my work resonates with your vision, let's connect. I am always available to discuss opportunities, clarify details, and explore how we can develop the future together.
© Douglas Lima. All rights reserved.