SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Priority review of applicants will be given to applicants who apply on or before 5/4/26. This position is for the 2026-2027 Academic year and begins September 2026.

About Our College

Located just outside of Seattle, WA,Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) was founded in 1949, and is the only public institute of technology in the state of Washington. LWTech offers 12 bachelor's degrees, 42 associate degrees, and 70 professional certificates in 41 areas of study, including STEM-focused programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.LWTech serves the Eastside and is located within the city of Kirkland, which is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Washington. Kirkland is home to companies such as GoDaddy, Google, Astronics and EvergreenHealth, and the college is within minutes from Microsoft and Nintendo.

Learn more about LWTech's Mission, Vision, Values, and Core Themes

LWTech is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its staff and faculty. We serve a student population of 6,500 that come from a variety of backgrounds. We strongly value diversity and are working to improve access and successful educational outcomes for all students. We are actively seeking applicants that will help to balance our employee workforce to align with our students and community. Questions regarding the College's commitment to diversity and our campus culture may be directed to Human Resources. For more information on our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Council, please click on thelink.

Job Summary

This is an Annual Renewable position with the possibility of converting to Tenure Track. Lake Washington Institute of Technology is seeking a qualified individual to teach a variety of courses centered on the Game Design & Development (GD&D) program. The primary focus of the program is on games that are generally sold for and played on various game consoles, personal computers or mobile devices. Students learn the key aspects of design and development, such as game mechanics, environment and character creation, game programming, and other game production activities as well as conceptual thinking for future methods of game development. We offer both an Associate's and Bachelor's degree in GD&D.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s Game Design and Development program’s graduates have gained employment at Microsoft, Bungie, Insomniac Games, Funko, Amazon Game Studios as well as other local and national studios. Our students have been nominated as finalists for the Independent Games Festival (IGF).

Assignment includes Teaching, Advising, Committee work plus

1. Foster student achievement of discipline-specific, college-wide, and transfer degree learning outcomes.
2. Assess and modify curriculum as needed to meet the changing needs of industry.
3. Teach classes in a variety of timeframes and delivery formats.
4. Work with other faculty and administrators to plan, implement, and update the program and program materials.
5. Take part in college activities, student advising, mentoring part-time faculty, and scheduling. This position reports to the division dean.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Teach a variety of courses in one or more aspects of game design and development, art production pipelines, or game mechanics scripting/programming
2. Guide students in learning industry tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter and other 2D & 3D applications as well as the ability to help students solve technical problems as part of the game software development process
3. Teach courses in one or more aspects of creative development such as character design, environment art, 3D materials, level design, narrative/storytelling, and concept art, leading to best industry practices and the creation of a professional portfolio
4. Develop and maintain industry and community support for game development; pursue local outreach to game studios and other related creative industries to create partnerships, internships, guest speaker opportunities, and job placement and follow-up opportunities; attend advisory committee meetings
5. Maintain comprehensive, current knowledge of the local, national, and global gaming industry, especially developments in Puget Sound
6. Advise students on educational and career planning; facilitate student learning through traditional activities and various alternative teaching/learning methods; identify course and program learning outcomes
7. Develop classroom and lab procedures, including safety, that follow local, state, and federal policies and procedures
8. Communicate expectations and establish clear grading criteria through appropriate instructional means; evaluate student progress, maintain appropriate records, and provide clear, timely feedback; deal consistently and fairly with all students
9. Pursue appropriate professional development activities to stay current in assigned teaching field and technical field
10. Teach productive and constructive work habits, study skills, and core skills as identified by the college; develop and incorporate instructional methods that support best learning practices; develop and teach curriculum that supports the college's global outcomes, cultural diversity, and non-discrimination; model the communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills needed for employment in the design field; design learning experiences for a variety of learning styles
11. Actively participate as team member in program management and campus initiatives; be familiar with and advance the college's mission, vision, and goals and how they relate to academic and technical programs; follow college, local, state and federal policies and procedures; attend department and college meetings as appropriate
12. Work with college counselors and other faculty to identify and incorporate general education learning needs for technical students
13. Other duties as assigned

Inaddition,full-timefacultywillalso:

1. Maintainregularoffice hours
2. Develop and assess program, curriculum, and educational outcomes
3. Performadvising, recruitingandretention activities
4. Take part in college accreditation, program review and college committees as specified in the faculty bargained agreement
5. May receive, as approved, release time to work on professional growth activities
6. Perform other professional activities as approved by the division dean

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor's degree in subject area or related discipline required; Master's preferred
2. Two years of successful full-time industry experience - minimum
3. Proficiency in common industry tools and experience with Unity or Unreal game engine; Unity preferred
4. Comprehensive knowledge of and ability to teach the game design and development process
5. Knowledge of programming languages used in the game industry preferred
6. Hold or be eligible to obtain a state professional-technical certificate to teach in subject area
7. Recent college teaching experience and experience with various teaching methods
8. Ability to use current college online learning management systems required
9. Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills
10. Experience in and commitment to working with undergraduate education strongly preferred
11. Willingness to participate on college, division, or department committees
12. Demonstrated ability to work successfully with students, staff, and community from diverse backgrounds, including native languages, and a commitment to a culturally diverse work environment

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Compensation & Work Schedule

This position is for the 2026-2027 Academic year and begins September 2026. Placement on the faculty salary schedule is based on an individual assessment of education and experience. This positions ranges from $84,925-$92,634 per academic year; salary is for an academic year (173 days) and as may be adjusted according to the faculty bargained agreement. Summer quarter employment may be available based on student enrollment. This is a full-time, Annual Renewable position with the possibility of converting to tenure track.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability and other insurance benefits are provided as currently administered under Public Employees Benefits Board, State Retirement Plan and a Deferred Compensation Plan; sick leave accrues at 1 day effective upon employment. We also offer 4 paid personal days effective upon employment. Full time, faculty employees have access to bereavement leave, employee assistance program, free tuition, reduced child care costs at our Early Learning Center, reduced Bus Fare, professional development opportunities and more! For further details on the benefits offered at LWTech, please visit: lwtech.edu/about/human-resources/benefits/

Conditions of Employment

1. Official transcripts/certifications will be required upon employment
2. Other conditions that may apply will be detailed upon the offer of employment
3. Job offers are contingent upon successful completion of background/reference checks

Physical Requirements

Ability to perform range of physical motions; lifting and carrying; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; and traversing up and down stairs.

Disability Accommodation

LWTech follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides the following information as a guideline for applicants:

1. Ability to operate office equipment
2. Ability to read and verify data and prepare various materials
3. Ability to exchange information on the phone or in person

Eligibility to Work:

In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire. LWTech does not currently sponsor HB-1 visas. Other conditions that may apply will be detailed upon the offer of employment.

Applicants considered for positions at the College may be required to submit to a background check as a condition of employment. Adverse information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability for the position.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, creed, disabled veteran status, marital status or Vietnam-era veteran status in is programs and activities. Questions regarding the College's Affirmative Action Policy may be directed to Meena Park, Vice President of Human Resources, Affirmative Action Office/Title IX Coordinator, (425) 739-8212.

Jeanne Clery Statement

Notice of Availability of Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998, and as a part of the College’s commitment to safety and security on campus, Lake Washington Institute of Technology(LWTech) reports the mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, the required statistics, and other related information for the past three (3) calendar years. LWTech’s Annual Safety Report (ASR) is available online atwww.lwtech.edu/about/campus-safety/.

To obtain a paper copy of the report, please visit the LWTech Safety Department located in the East Building at 11605 132nd Avenue NE Kirkland, WA 98034.

Pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080, applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or is currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant's current or past employers. By law, post-secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who does not complete this form.

CORRECTIONS OR EXTENDED NOTICES

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