I design and build scalable and performant gameplay systems with a love for delightful player experiences.
Hi! I'm Aidan Michaels, a passionate software engineer who loves systemic design, creativ problem solving,
and building products that others can enjoy! I have a background in the games industry getting my start
working in Unity at a mobile game studio followed by a VR game studio. Nowadays, I work in the software
engineering space where I build custom AI tools and implement agentic workflows into the ever-evolving
space of software!
I hope you enjoy my portfolio, I certainly have enjoyed making the projects on it, haha. I believe
software, like games, can have the power to bring people together. It my dream is to create projects for
others that foster long-lasting memories and friendships as they have for me!
Relevant Skills:
Some of the projects I graciously had the opportunity to be part of. These include commercial, personal, and school projects.
At Hearst Magazines, I have the opportunity to serve the Product and Technology team as the company undergoes an technological evolution. I am working on foundational tools that are being used by other team members and stakeholders to assist in project development.
A dark fantasy VR extraction game for Meta Quest and PCVR. I engineered a networked notification system for real-time feedback and refactored core weapon architecture for modularity. Operating in an Agile environment, I collaborated with designers to iterate on gameplay features, participating in daily standups and maintaining high code quality through peer reviews and strict PR workflows.
A top-down puzzle game created in Unity using C#, Cinemachine, and A* Pathfinding.
Engineered and shipped the 'Tic-Tac-Toe' module to iOS, Android, and Amazon storefronts, optimizing performance for low-end mobile hardware. Collaborated within an Agile pipeline using Git for version control and daily coordination.
A stealth-action game prototype I led as project manager while also contributing as a gameplay programmer during my study abroad at Northumbria University, UK.
A 2D Retro-arcade shooter created in Godot 4 over the summer of 2023.
A side-scrolling action game developed for RevolutionNJ as part of my Design Perspectives in Interactive Multimedia course at TCNJ.
Specializing in game development at The College of New Jersey, I’ve focused on game programming and design projects to prepare for a career in the creative software engineering industry. In Spring 2024, I studied abroad at Northumbria University in England, gaining global perspectives from industry professionals, and have participated in multiple game jams. I was remained on the Honors Dean’s List through my entire university career, and was invited to join the Phi Kappa Phi honors society for ranking in the top 7.5% of my class. I also am an Alum of the T. Howard Foundation.
Completed a specialized Computer Science curriculum focused on Web Development and Object-Oriented Programming. Two-time SkillsUSA State Champion (2021, 2022) in Web Design, achieving a 9th place ranking nationally in 2021.
If you'd like to talk about opportunities or collaboration, the easiest way is to schedule a meeting. You can also send a message directly below.
Or email directly at agmichaels7957@gmail.com
