Técnico Alumni is a platform that allows former students of Instituto Superior Técnico to reconnect, relive, and reminisce their time at Técnico through access to a network of contacts with other Alumni. It is within the context of this platform’s activities that this interview with Tiago Raposo, a former DEI student, originally took place, and is now being republished in full.  

To learn more about Técnico Alumni and join the network, click HERE.

—

Tiago Raposo is a Software Engineer specializing in Gameplay (game mechanics) and is currently working at Ubisoft in Montreal, Canada.

He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering in 2016, marking the starting point of a diverse and multifaceted academic and professional journey over the past 10 years. After earning a Master’s degree in Game Engineering in the United Kingdom, he had the opportunity to work in the gaming industry around the world, including in the United Kingdom, the United States, Portugal, and Canada. His contributions can already be seen in several renowned games, including nominated and award-winning titles such as Tom Clancy's The Division 2, Assassin's Creed Nexus VR, and Rainbow Six Siege.

• Why Técnico?

When it came time to enter higher education, it was unquestionable—both from family members who are Técnico alumni and from teachers and peers—that this was the institution that offered the highest quality and rigor in Engineering education in Portugal. Ten years after completing my degree at Técnico, I have no doubt I made the right choice to gain the foundational education that shaped the basis of my career and professional success.

• At Técnico, was there any inspiring figure?

I had the privilege of learning from many experienced and distinguished professors who provided me with a high-quality education at Técnico. Among them, Professor David Martins de Matos, who taught us Object-Oriented Programming and Compilers, was a major inspiration to me. His teaching balanced ease and rigor, his down-to-earth and accessible approach to concepts and course material, and his unique humor made his classes consistently enjoyable. Many of his lessons are still part of my daily professional life, and I remain deeply grateful for his contribution to students year after year at Técnico.

• Can you tell us a bit about the beginning of your professional journey?

I had the opportunity to pursue my Master’s abroad, in a very specific specialization: Game Engineering. One major benefit of this Master’s was its high degree of industry integration—building contacts and a professional network begins at university itself. I started my career at Ubisoft Reflections, and in my first few months I worked on two small indie projects: Ode and Atomega. In these, I contributed across a wide range of game functionalities, including shaders, physics simulation, gameplay mechanics, visual effects, performance optimization, and even the much-coveted easter eggs.

• What was the hardest decision you have ever had to make?

Several times throughout my career I have had to make key decisions that completely changed the course of my life. For me, any decision involving a change or progression in career is “the hardest.” In that sense, I have had several decisive moments, and I still have many ahead. From deciding to move to the United Kingdom to complete my studies, to moving to the United States, returning later to Portugal, and more recently relocating to Canada, all were highly impactful decisions. But with the help of family, friends, colleagues, and long lists of pros and cons, I have very few regrets.

• How did you enter the professional field you are in now?

I was fortunate to know early on that one of my dreams was to create video games. Since my teenage years, beyond entertaining myself with small programming courses and challenges, I applied that learning to developing mini-games. I chose Computer Science and Engineering at Técnico already convinced I would end up in the games industry, but I confirmed that path when, near the end of my degree, I began carefully studying options to pursue Game Engineering in major international hubs: the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, the United States, and others.

• What does a typical day look like for you now?

My main role today is as an individual contributor, which involves several phases in my position as Senior Gameplay Engineer: brainstorming sessions with Engineering, Design, and Art teams; creating technical development plans for new systems and features; implementing those systems; and fixing bugs and optimizing performance across the game. I also spend part of my time reviewing colleagues’ code and discussing and planning the project’s technical progress.

• What are your plans for the future?

A large part of my career still lies ahead, and I have big ambitions for how to fill it. Beyond the natural progression into roles with greater responsibility and impact on the technology behind the games I work on, I hope to have many more opportunities to make meaningful contributions to games with major artistic and cultural impact—like so many of the games I have enjoyed since childhood.

• What makes you proud to be a Técnico alumnus?

During my academic journey, I was exposed to other universities, including abroad, and to other social and cultural environments. Even today, ten years later, I believe Técnico gave me better preparation for the professional world in Engineering. Its high-quality teaching, rigor, demands, and complete, holistic approach to learning made me far more competent and resilient in my professional path, which is not only a competitive advantage but also a source of pride.

• What advice would you give current students?

Do not be afraid to follow the path you believe in most for yourselves and that allows you to achieve your dreams. Do not let yourself be held back by prejudices about a particular degree or academic field, or by pressure from peers, professors, or family. Success can be measured and defined in many different ways, and what matters most is your own fulfillment.

• What word or phrase would you use to describe Técnico alumni?

Resilience. Our ability to withstand adversity throughout our academic and professional paths and persist toward our life goals is exceptional