I seek senior engineering roles where I can architect scalable systems, mentor teams, and drive product impact in fast-growing companies
Lucas Machado
@lucasemachado
PhD-level Staff Software Engineer
What I'm looking for
I am a PhD-level software architect and staff engineer with experience building high-scale AI and media infrastructure, blending deep technical research with product and business leadership.
As a former 2x CTO and engineering leader, I have architected GenAI pipelines and operational platforms that reduced localization costs by 50% and scaled content globally, while delivering hands-on implementations in Python, AWS, C#, Go and Unity.
I thrive driving technical excellence in high-growth teams, mentoring engineers, defining architecture for ML-driven systems, and turning research into production impact across games, media and product platforms.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Chief Technical Officer
Prota Games
Dec 2021 - Jan 2026 (4 years 1 month)
• AI Pipeline: Built Python/AWS GenAI tools for video/dubbing; cut localization costs by 50%. • Ops Platform: Architected the studio’s backbone for real-time P&L and automated logistics. • Games & Apps: Led Unity/Roblox tech (C#, Luau), architecting core gameplay and high-performance multi-platform apps across the studio’s entire software product line.
Engineering Manager
Wildlife Studios
Aug 2021 - Dec 2021 (4 months)
Led a cross-functional squad of engineers and data scientists to optimize player LTV using machine learning, improving monetization strategies and product impact.
Senior Software Engineer
Wildlife Studios
Jun 2019 - Aug 2021 (2 years 2 months)
Founded the Machine Learning Platform team and built Go-based infrastructure enabling data scientists to deploy and monitor models in production, delivering real-time ML-driven features to millions of users.
Head of Technology
Beblue
Jun 2017 - Sep 2018 (1 year 3 months)
Modernized the technology organization with OKRs and product roles, optimized hiring, and led development of the Java PDV platform and backoffice tools to support retail expansion.
IT Specialist & Manager
Ingresso Rápido
Jan 2017 - Apr 2017 (3 months)
Developed a microservice for permissions using LDAP and organized the development team with Scrum and Jira, automating processes to improve delivery.
IT Specialist
TruckPad
Sep 2016 - Jan 2017 (4 months)
Developed multiple features for the TruckPad Android app and contributed to product direction as Head of Product for a subsequent release.
Innovation Manager
Movile
Mar 2016 - Jun 2016 (3 months)
Led an internal innovation cell acting as a startup CEO to deliver a chatbot in Node.js, achieving early Brazilian approval on Facebook Messenger.
IT BR Manager
Movile
Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 (11 months)
Led a 40-engineer team delivering mobile and SMS products for carriers using iOS, Android, Xamarin, Java and Spring, improving delivery of messaging and payment solutions.
Co-Founder & CTO
Mobjoy
May 2011 - Jan 2015 (3 years 8 months)
Built the engineering organization, hiring process and CI/CD practices; optimized Node.js backends (up to 10x) and developed game clients, plugins and APIs across mobile platforms.
Professor & Coordinator
PUC-Rio
Jun 2010 - Apr 2011 (10 months)
Taught C, algorithms and data structures and managed a faculty team delivering mandatory programming courses to ~1000 engineering and CS students.
Co-Founder & CEO
Overmind Games
Nov 2006 - Apr 2011 (4 years 5 months)
Managed development of multiple games across J2ME, Flash and Objective-C and developed a 3D Java engine for J2ME devices.
Associate Director
Active Tecnologia
Jan 2002 - Jan 2005 (3 years)
Developed a C++ game using Direct3D/DirectPlay and led technical initiatives in game development and distributed systems.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Harvard Business School Online
Other; Certificate in Entrepreneurship Essentials, Entrepreneurship
2021 - 2021
Completed the Entrepreneurship Essentials certificate program covering fundamentals of entrepreneurship and venture assessment.
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Science
2004 - 2009
PhD in Computer Science focusing on advanced topics in software engineering and related research.
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Master of Science, Computer Science
2003 - 2004
Master of Science in Computer Science with coursework and research in software and systems topics.
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro
Bachelor, Systems Analysis
1999 - 2003
Bachelor degree in Systems Analysis covering programming, algorithms, and systems design.
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Social media
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