Lead Game Developer

About Talky - Turning Language Learning into an Open-World Game

Talky is an EdTech startup transforming how children aged 8-12 learn languages. Through a story-driven open-world game, kids engage in real conversations with characters to unlock new areas, solve quests, and progress in both the game and their language skills. Speaking isn't a feature - it's the mechanic. Our mission is to make language learning accessible, immersive, and empowering for children around the world.

Your Role - Lead Game Developer

At this stage, you'll be joining a small, hands-on team where you'll work closely with the founders and contribute directly to product decisions. Expect a startup environment: things are evolving fast, some structures are still being built, and you'll need to take ownership of your area from day one. You'll work autonomously, shaping major parts of the game and tech architecture yourself.

As we grow, you'll step into a formal leadership role - guiding a team, driving technical strategy, and helping build a product that can impact millions of young learners.

We need you to be / have:

• 3+ years of professional experience in game development
• Proficiency in Unity for Android and iOS, including App Store deployment
• Experience working with ReST APIs and client/server communication
• A mindset for clever, scalable, and future-proof architecture
• Initiative and ownership - you get things done in a structured and proactive way
• Strong communication skills - able to explain your work clearly to both tech and non-tech team members
• A long-term vision and excitement about reaching millions of young learners
• A collaborative spirit, willing to shape company culture and lead by example
• A team player and problem-solver who values open dialogue
• Deep interest in education and EdTech
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); German or Spanish is a plus

Our Tech & Team:

• Unity/C# for game logic and frontend
• Modular, scalable backend architecture using cloud-native principles
• Speech and feedback systems tailored for young learners
• Initially hybrid/remote - but long-term, this is an on-site role in Barcelona (with the opportunity to choose Berlin as an alternative location)
• Fast iteration cycles, strong UX focus, and meaningful mission

Join us in building something that empowers kids and reshapes how we learn languages - with purpose, creativity, and tech that inspires.