Kyle Schieck

Software Developer III - Prodigy Education

June 2025 - Feb 2026

Daily Reward System

• Designed and implemented the backend architecture for a daily login reward feature distributing premium in-game currency.
• Developed timezone-aware logic to prevent reward duplication and edge-case exploitation.
• Implemented validation layers and anti-abuse safeguards.
• Wrote comprehensive unit tests to ensure correctness and long-term maintainability.
• Delivered a system capable of safely operating across a large active user base.

A/B Testing & Feature Experimentation

• Implemented GrowthBook-based A/B testing infrastructure.
• Built multiple concurrent feature variants to support segmented player cohorts.
• Designed systems flexible enough to evolve alongside experimentation goals.
• Helped enable product-driven iteration based on measurable player behavior.
• Prefab Architecture Modernization
• Migrated legacy gameplay code into a data-driven prefab model.
• Converted code-heavy logic into configurable, content-driven systems.
• Reduced technical debt and improved iteration speed for gameplay features.
• Supported broader team OKRs around system scalability and maintainability.

Content Validation & Reliability

• Built automated validation scripts to detect misconfigured gameplay content before deployment.
• Prevented live content bugs by catching systemic issues early in the pipeline.
• Stabilized cross-system bugs affecting player experience.
• Contributed to improving development workflows and release confidence.

Unreal Game Developer - Stealth Game Studio

Feb 2025 – Jun 2025

Gameplay Systems Implementation

• Implemented new gameplay mechanics in Unreal Engine 5.
• Extended and modified existing systems to support new player experiences.
• Collaborated closely with design to translate gameplay intent into scalable systems.

First-Time User Experience (FTUE)

• Built gameplay flows and logic for first-time player onboarding.
• Integrated analytics to measure engagement and progression drop-off.

AI Debugging & Tooling

• Built custom state visualization tools for NPC state trees.
• Improved AI debugging efficiency by exposing real-time state transitions.
• Diagnosed and resolved complex state machine bugs impacting gameplay reliability.

Analytics Integration

• Integrated Google Analytics to track feature usage and player interaction.
• Instrumented gameplay systems to enable data-informed design iteration.

Senior Gameplay Systems Developer - Apocalypse Studios

Jan 2023 – Jan 2025

Combat System (Major System Ownership)

• Designed and implemented a full-scale ARPG combat system using Unreal’s Gameplay Ability System (GAS).
• Built ability frameworks, custom targeting systems, attribute and stat systems, weapon archetypes, enemy-type variations.
• Partnered directly with combat designers to translate high-level gameplay vision into extensible technical systems.
• Built systems flexible enough to support diverse character builds and ability interactions.
• Ensured multiplayer compatibility across abilities and combat interactions.

Multiplayer Integration

• Integrated multiplayer support into gameplay systems.
• Ensured deterministic behavior and synchronization across networked sessions.
• Collaborated across engineering disciplines to maintain gameplay consistency online.

AI & LLM Integration

• Integrated third-party Text-to-Speech APIs.
• Integrated LLM services for dynamic in-game AI agent dialogue.
• Designed systems for runtime AI interaction while maintaining performance constraints.
• Enhanced immersion and accessibility through dynamic voice-enabled NPCs.
• This role required balancing gameplay responsiveness, extensibility, multiplayer correctness, and design flexibility.

Senior Software Developer - Gazeus Games

Jun 2021 – Jan 2023

Distributed Matchmaking & Turn System

• Designed and built a horizontally scalable distributed backend for turn-based multiplayer gameplay.
• Enabled players to participate in the same match while connected to different server nodes.
• Implemented Redis pub/sub for cross-server event routing.
• Designed matchmaking and game-state synchronization logic.
• Achieved full unit test coverage across the core server architecture.
• Ensured reliability and consistency across distributed systems.
• Integrated third-party services securely using TLS handshakes.
• Mentored junior developers contributing to the backend codebase.
• This was production-level distributed systems engineering.

Yahtzee Party

• Led full-stack implementation of store systems and cloud persistence.
• Integrated PlayFab authentication and in-app purchase systems.
• Built matchmaking systems and backend features supporting live mobile users.
• Collaborated cross-functionally with artists and designers to ship gameplay features.

Senior Software Developer - Big Viking Games

Oct 2015 – Jun 2021

Sole Technical Owner

• Owned the entire codebase for a live production game.
• Acted as technical contact across design, production, QA, and player support.
• Broke down feature requirements and scoped technical implementation.
• Drove architectural decisions and evaluated technical designs.

Feature Development & Tooling

• Designed database schemas and RESTful APIs.
• Built event-driven in-game features.
• Created configuration and administration tooling for non-technical team members.
• Built a Match-3 stage editor for designers.
• Built a generic feature configuration system to accelerate feature creation.
• Integrated rewarded ads and monetization systems.

Live Ops & Production Stability

• Ran deployment processes for feature releases.
• Acted as emergency responder for live issues.
• Diagnosed and resolved production incidents.
• Integrated server monitoring tools and optimized database queries.
• Designed analytics logging pipelines.
• Wrote SQL queries for marketing to analyze player behavior.
• This role demonstrated full lifecycle ownership of a live product.

YoWorld / YoWorld Mobile

• Built mini-games and slot systems.
• Collaborated closely with artists and designers.
• Participated in code reviews and cross-team architecture discussions.
• Took a prototype to production and launch (Yomo).
• Integrated Facebook social APIs.
• Contributed to security systems linking related player accounts to detect abuse.