On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union accomplished a theretofore impossible feat when the satellite Sputnik sailed out of the Earth’s atmosphere atop an R7 rocket and established orbit. A month later, the SputnikII brought with it a dog named Laika, the first earthling to experience outer space.
The space race ensued — and the innovations and explorations that the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. undertook brought humans to the moon. A small army of physicists, astronomers and engineers filled the exosphere with satellites. They sent robots to Mars and launched probes beyond the bounds of our solar system.
In February of 2023, gamers will have the opportunity to manage their own space program. In Kerbal Space Program 2, a sequel to the popular space-flight simulator, players can recreate the successes and negotiate the failures of their own space race as they help the Kerbals ascend to the stars.
Software Engineer Juan Tamez Pena recently joined Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games, where he and his colleagues are hard at work bringing an immersive experience to gamers. His advice for those who want to work on games like Kerbal? Brush up on your physics. “A passion for science, space and game development is a must.”
Read on to learn more about Tamez Pena’s experiences with Intercept Games and how you can join the company.
Intercept Games is a video game development studio currently working on Kerbal Space Program 2, a sequel to the popular space program management simulator.
What initially drew you to apply for an engineering role at Intercept Games?
I have had a passion for building simulation games for a while, and I knew some of the amazing games the studio has been working on. So, when I found there was an opportunity to join the company and participate in the creation of one of those games and solve the kind of engineering challenges they entail, I immediately jumped in.
What was the hiring process like, and how was it different from other experiences you've had?
The interview process, which was done virtually, was very straightforward and not that different from other tech companies I have worked with — except that the interviewers showed a genuine interest in the process and had a friendly disposition. The questions and exercises I had to solve were interesting and relevant for the role I applied for, and I was given a very good understanding of what would be expected of me if I was hired.
What advice would you give to fellow engineers thinking about applying for one of Intercept Games’ open roles?
Besides having good programming skills, I recommend having some experience with modern game engines and dev environments — particularly Unity and Unreal — even if it is just as a hobby. Also, some knowledge of 3D math and physics is necessary for the kind of games being made. I recommend brushing up on what you know about 3D physics for games beforehand — and perhaps reading an introductory book if you feel you don't have familiarity with the subject.
A passion for science, space and game development is a must. So is being creative! Don't be afraid to share how passionate you are and what kind of fun science or game development related things you have done in the past.
