Programmer (Switch 2 Port)

Thekla, Inc.
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Posted
September 11, 2025
Contract
Anywhere
Remote

We are seeking an experienced contractor specializing in porting modern 3D graphics applications to help bring Braid, Anniversary Edition and The Witness to the Nintendo Switch 2 platform.

Both games were built in a custom C++ engine, with bespoke rendering and systems tailored to each title. The port will require ensuring the final experience maintains the visual fidelity, responsiveness, and polish players expect from our work.

Responsibilities

  • Port Braid, Anniversary Edition and The Witness from their existing custom C++ engines to run efficiently on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.
  • Optimize performance, graphics, and memory usage for the new platform while preserving artistic intent.
  • Implement and test platform-specific features and requirements (input, display, certification, etc.).
  • Collaborate with the studio team to troubleshoot technical challenges and maintain quality standards throughout the process.
  • Provide clear documentation of changes, workflows, and platform-specific considerations.

Requirements

  • Demonstrated experience porting complex C++ projects (preferably custom engines) to consoles.
  • Strong understanding of modern graphics APIs and GPU optimization techniques.
  • Deep familiarity with memory management, performance profiling, and debugging in constrained hardware environments.
  • Experience with porting or optimizing modern 3D applications or games.
  • Self-directed and reliable — able to scope, execute, and deliver with minimal oversight.

Nice to Have

  • Prior experience shipping games on Nintendo hardware.
  • Knowledge of multithreading and concurrency in performance-sensitive applications.
  • An appreciation for Braid and The Witness, or for games that push artistic and intellectual boundaries.

Contract Details

  • Remote position.
  • Contractor engagement (not a full-time hire).
  • Competitive rate, commensurate with experience.
  • Project-based contract, with possibility for ongoing collaboration on future platforms or updates.

How to Apply

If you think you might be a fit, please fill out the application form by attaching your resume, linking to your portfolio, and sharing a short description or list of your relevant console porting work.

About
Thekla, Inc.

We are a small independent game studio led by Jonathan Blow, dedicated to creating games that combine artistry, intelligence, and technical excellence. Our projects — including Braid and The Witness — are known for their meticulous craftsmanship, philosophical depth, and enduring impact on players. We maintain a high bar for quality in both creative and technical work, and we value collaborators who bring rigor, focus, and problem-solving skills to the table.

Control the flow of time to solve subtle platform puzzles in this update of the indie classic "Braid," featuring refreshed artwork and seriously in-depth creator commentary. Travel from a city house through a series of interconnected worlds where time behaves strangely, searching for an elusive Princess. Along the way you'll explore memories and regrets that still haunt you. This Anniversary Edition remaster of the award-winning platformer contains fully repainted high-resolution graphics, new sound effects and extensive audio commentary.

You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.

You don't remember who you are, and you don't remember how you got here, but there's one thing you can do: explore the island in hope of discovering clues, regaining your memory, and somehow finding your way home.

The Witness is a single-player game in an open world with dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles. This game respects you as an intelligent player and it treats your time as precious. There's no filler; each of those puzzles brings its own new idea into the mix. So, this is a game full of ideas.

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