Summary
Damen Birtola is a technical lead and gameplay programmer with a decade of experience building games and systems in Unreal Engine. Based in Folsom, California, he has progressed from lead programmer and producer on award-winning student projects to leading engineering at Disruptive Games, where he scales core gameplay systems and mentors teammates. His background blends film and cinematography training with a Computer Game Design BS from UC Santa Cruz, giving him a strong eye for interactive visuals and player-facing features. Notable strengths include shipping modular systems (visual scripting, modular robots, UI) and onboarding new team members to complex toolchains. An avid game jammer and self-described Unreal fanatic, he pairs hands-on development with a collaborative, product-focused approach.
10 years of coding experience
4 years of employment as a software developer
Cinematography and Film/Video Production, Cinematography and Film/Video Production at De Anza College
Leland High School
Bachelors of Science in Computer Science: Computer Game Design, Computer Games and Programming Skills, Bachelors of Science in Computer Science: Computer Game Design, Computer Games and Programming Skills at University of California, Santa Cruz - Jack Baskin School of Engineering