Nicolas Schneider

Tools Programmer

Empowering teams by understanding their challenges and delivering tailored solutions.

I'm a programmer who fell in love with coding early on, but I chose video games because you can see your work come to life on screen immediately. My specialization as a tool programmer allows me to constantly explore new technologies and collaborate with all departments, making every project a dynamic and innovative experience.

Currently, I work at Old Skull Games, my first company with more than three employees and the one where I've stayed the longest. As an Associate Lead Programmer, I enjoy working closely with every team— from design to production—while also having a significant impact on the overall structure of our projects and the technical department.

Before joining Old Skull Games, I gained valuable experience in the video game industry by working in smaller indie studios, including collaborations with Onirofoge and Team Kwa Kwa. Alongside my industry work, I've always maintained a connection to education: I spent two years teaching at SAE Institute and more recently have delivered modules at Game Sup, sharing my knowledge with the next generation of game developers.

In my free time, I continue to optimize my skills by diving into games like Factorio and Satisfactory, and I love challenging myself with titles such as Europa Universalis, Civilization, and Warhammer Total War III. When I'm not gaming, I enjoy unwinding in a jungle of green plants, surrounded by my trusty d20 dice for D&D and my collection of cookbooks—ever curious and always learning.

OCT 2024 - PRESENT

Associate Lead Programmer - Old Skull Games

I manage small teams of programmers through regular one-on-one meetings and oversee project management activities such as sprint planning, milestone prioritization, and client discussions to accurately understand their needs. Additionally, I contribute to organizing our programming team by establishing comprehensive guidelines and drafting a coding style guide. Alongside these leadership duties, I continue to practice tool programming and collaborate closely with various teams to ensure our solutions meet their evolving requirements.

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2024 - PRESENT

Occasional Trainer - Game Sup

I had the opportunity to deliver concise, focused modules on specialized topics. One module, in particular, centered on applying procedural generation techniques to Roguelike projects.

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OCT 2021 - SEP 2024

Tools Programmer - Old Skull Games

I continued to work closely with multidisciplinary teams. I focused on understanding their workflows to design and implement solutions that boosted productivity and allowed them to concentrate on adding value. For exemple, I developed a 2D level editor, implemented systems for audio integration within levels, and created several quality-of-life enhancements in Unity. Additionally, I built shared tools used across multiple projects, ensuring they were robust, stable, and compatible with various development pipelines

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OCT 2020 - SEP 2021

Gameplay Programmer - Old Skull Games

I collaborated closely with multidisciplinary teams to create engaging free-to-play mobile games using Unity. I contributed to the development of game modes, boss, and implemented enemy behaviors.

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SEP 2019 - SEP 2020

Supervisore Game Programming Section - SAE Institute Geneva

I continued delivering my advanced courses on procedural generation and artificial intelligence, while also introducing foundational training in Unity and C++. In this role, I closely mentored first-year students by preparing, administering, and grading their exams, ensuring they built a solid technical foundation alongside advanced concepts.

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FEB 2019 - APR 2019

Teacher Game Programming - SAE Institute Geneva

I taught two modules that allowed me to share my technical expertise with aspiring game developers. In one module, I focused on procedural generation and artificial intelligence in video games, guiding students to create a project that combined both techniques. In the other module, centered on mathematics and physics, the final assignment challenged them to build a 2D physics engine in C++.

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SEP 2018 - FEB 2019

Gameplay Programmer - Team Kwa Kwa

During this project, I build an open world by iterating on a mix of handcrafted design and procedural generation techniques. I also developed my first dialogue creation tool, which streamlined the narrative process. This work even allowed me to showcase the project at industry events such as Ludicious and Nordic Games.

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MAI 2018

Gameplay Programmer - Oniro Forge

I began my career as a Gameplay Programmer on an innovative VR project. In a tight-knit team of four, I had the chance to be involved in every aspect of game development—from designing new features and building immersive scenes to implementing enemy behaviors.

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View My Full Resume

Cryptical Path

Cryptical Path, our first OIP, is a PC project. As a Tool Programmer, I played a key role in level design by developing a robust dungeon generation algorithm and building tools that allowed us to fine-tune parameters and assess their outcomes. I also created intuitive interfaces to help level designers in constructing distinct parts of each level.

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Valiant Hearts : Coming Home

Valiant Hearts: Coming Home is the sequel to the original game, developed in collaboration with Ubisoft for Netflix's mobile platform. In my role as a Tool Programmer, I contributed by implementing gameplay elements, developing essential tools, and shaping key aspects of the project's architecture

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Tiny Worlds : Idle Dragon Game

Tiny Worlds: Idle Dragon Game is a mobile idle game where I served as a Gameplay Programmer. I focused on enhancing the FTUE, optimizing game performance, and developing a liveops tool using Firebase to streamline in-game operations.

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Spongebob : Patty Pursuit

Spongebob Patty Pursuit is a licensed game where I joined the team post-launch. I contributed by developing World 8—most notably creating the Boss, Grandma Plankton—and implemented both the Daily Mode and Challenge Mode using procedural generation scripts to deliver fresh gameplay experiences.

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Raid Heroes

Raid Heroes is a fast-paced, free-to-play mobile game. As a Gameplay Programmer, I contributed to its evolution by implementing a new game mode in the latest update and integrating a comprehensive localization system.

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View All My Projects

SEP 2017 - JUL 2020

Management formation

In my role as Associate Lead Programmer, I received several management trainings. I learned how to work in a team, communicate effectively, manage people with visible or invisible disabilities, and give constructive feedback. I have used these skills in my work with the teams I manage.

SEP 2017 - JUL 2020

Bachelor of Science

I earned my Bachelor of Science at SAE Institute in Geneva, with a focus on video game development. I worked mainly with C# in Unity and used C++ on custom game engines. I also took courses in game design and project management.

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I have over 15 years of experience in programming, working on both professional and personal projects.
My journey started with personal web projects, continued with formal studies, and led to a career in the video game industry.
I have held various roles and contributed at every stage of development.

My teaching experience and roles as a tools programmer and associate lead programmer have enabled me to engage in technical discussions with professionals from diverse backgrounds and solve problems outside my core expertise.
I worked in an environment that encourage 1o1.

I use C# daily since 2017.
I have worked on 6 professional projects using C#.
I have developed and maintained a shared framework across multiple projects.

I develop developer-focused user interfaces for different teams.
I enhance user experience by working in external tools such as Photoshop, Maya, FMDO, and ToonBoom.

I have used Unity daily since 2017.
I have shipped 3 professional games in roles spanning gameplay, systems, and tools development.
I have participated in over 20 game jams using Unity.

I am trained in agile concepts and practices.
I have successfully delivered multiple projects using agile ceremonies.
I have a deep understanding of the value each agile ceremony brings to the development process.

I studied C++ for 3 years during my education.
I continue to use C++ for personal projects.

I have used Jira extensively in professional settings.
I manage tasks at various levels, from OKRs and project stories to individual tasks.

I have used Git since 2017 and am comfortable with pull request workflows and advanced features.
I have experience integrating SVN and Git on large projects.