Portfolio — Technical Design

Uriel Cruz

Senior Technical Designer, Unreal Engine 5

Prague, Czechia — originally from Spain urielcruz@proton.me

Currently driving technical design at GRIP Studios, taking full feature ownership of core player mechanics, 3C systems, and interactive gameplay features across AA & AAA projects. Experienced in multi-phase boss encounters, technical prototyping, and authoring modular gameplay architecture (TDDs).

Get in touch → Download CV
About

Gameplay Architect

Senior Technical Designer specialized in Unreal Engine 5 (C++, Blueprints, GAS), with a proven track record across AA and AAA development. I bridge design vision and technical execution — from rapid prototype to polished, shipping-ready feature — with particular depth in combat systems, multi-phase boss encounters, and advanced locomotion built on Motion Matching.

Core focus is feature ownership: taking a system from concept through TDD, prototyping, and production hardening, while keeping the architecture modular and reusable across teams.

Core Focus
Feature Ownership 3Cs & Player Mechanics Boss & Combat Design UE5 Architecture
4+
Years in games
5
Studios
AAA
Track record
UE5
Specialized
Languages
SpanishNative / Bilingual
EnglishFull Professional
CatalanProfessional Working
FrenchLimited Working
Experience

Career Timeline

April 2025 — Present · 1 yr 5 mo
GRIP Studios Current
Prague, Czechia
Senior Technical Designer (UE5)
April 2026 — Present · 5 months
  • Spearhead technical design for primary 3C systems, player mechanics, and interactive features from concept to production
  • Author comprehensive Technical Design Documents (TDDs) and build modular, scalable gameplay frameworks
  • Partner with lead designers, animation, and engineering to align technical execution with game vision
Projects: Unannounced AAA Titles · UE5, C++, Blueprints, GAS, Perforce
Technical Designer (UE5)
April 2025 — March 2026 · 1 year
  • Designed and scripted complex multi-phase boss fights and AI logic in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis using C++ and Blueprints
  • Developed high-fidelity prototypes for combat, movement, and weapon systems across AAA unannounced titles
  • Debugged and optimized gameplay systems for target performance, authoring reusable TDDs for studio-wide adoption
Projects: Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Unannounced AAA Title · UE5, C++, Blueprints, GAS, Perforce
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
January 2026 — Present · 8 months
Visual Dynamics Studio Founder
Solo Technical Designer & Founder
  • Own architecture, C++/Blueprint gameplay programming, and technical design for original games, end to end
  • Run the full production cycle solo: prototyping, 3C systems, gameplay mechanics, and optimization
Projects: Fragmented Iron, Hypoxia · UE5, C++, Blueprints, Game Design
December 2023 — December 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo
DALOAR Studios
Valladolid, Spain
Technical Designer (UE5)
  • Designed and integrated a production-ready Motion Matching system and universal, context-aware parkour (climb, mantle, vault)
  • Implemented enhanced abilities using the Gameplay Ability System (GAS) with full network replication
  • Provided technical design support and GAS expertise for The Occultist
Projects: Unannounced AAA Title, The Occultist · UE5, C++, GAS, Motion Matching
The Occultist
The Occultist
November 2022 — June 2023 · 8 months
Orengi Games
Spain — Remote
Technical Designer (Unreal Engine)
  • Developed Blueprint/C++ interaction systems, state-based AI, level scripting, and editor utilities to streamline designer workflows
  • Implemented core combat mechanics, progression systems, and UI integration for Tears of Elara
Project: Tears of Elara · UE5, Blueprints, C++
Tears of Elara
Tears of Elara
January 2022 — March 2023 · 1 yr 3 mo
HechicerIA
Unreal Engine Developer
  • Led the technical migration of Current Anima from Unity to UE5, establishing new production pipelines, coding standards, and Perforce workflows
  • Trained and mentored the development team on Blueprint/C++ best practices and plugin integration
Project: Current Anima · UE5, Unity, C++, Blueprints
Current Anima Trailer
Current Anima — Trailer
2019
Early Background
Before games — software & web development
EverisSoftware Developer — backend development, testing and incident resolution using Java, SQL and XML
Oct 2019 – Jun 2020
VerkiaWeb Developer — full-stack web application design, development and testing
Mar 2019 – Jun 2019
Skills

Toolset & Expertise

I
Engines & Programming
Unreal Engine 4/5 Unity C++ C# Blueprints Python Java SQL
II
Key Technologies
GAS Motion Matching AI Behavior Trees Physics Simulation Networking / Replication
III
Design
Feature Ownership Combat Design Boss Design Level Design Modular Systems TDD Authoring
IV
Tools & Pipeline
Perforce Git Jira RenderDoc Profiling Tools
V
Leadership
Engine Migration Leadership Team Mentoring Cross-Discipline Alignment
VI
Also
Technical Reviewer (Book) Ethical Hacking (2016–2022)
Projects

Selected Work

Crypt Raider
Mini Game · UE5
Crypt Raider ↗

Explore and uncover the secrets of a hidden crypt. Solve puzzles in a mysterious setting and unlock new chambers.

UE5C++
Obstacle Assault
Mini Game · UE5
Obstacle Assault ↗

3D low-poly pirate platformer. Navigate treacherous obstacles to collect treasure maps and reach the captain.

UE5C++
Mars Marine
Mini Game · UE5
Mars Marine ↗

Defend ancient ruins on a fantasy Mars from waves of alien invaders. Survive using strategic positioning and healing pick-ups.

UE5Blueprints
Architectural Visualization in UE5
Technical Review · Book
Architectural Viz in UE5 ↗

Technical reviewer for this published book on architectural visualization workflows in Unreal Engine 5.

UE5ArchVizPublished
Plugin
Environment Scanner plugin debug visualization
Beta · Live on Fab
UE 5.7 · C++ Plugin
Environment Scanner

Pure environment detection for character traversal — no Motion Matching dependency, no GAS, no MotionWarping. Just Engine.

  • Front & back ledge detection with top-surface snapping
  • Obstacle classification: Reachable, Gap, Slide, Unreachable
  • Airborne state and lateral wall detection for wall-run
  • Guaranteed horizontal normals — warp-target ready out of the box
  • Drop-in component or static library call from C++ / Blueprint
C++BlueprintsFab
↗ View on Fab
Credentials

Certifications & Honors

Certifications
—Unreal Engine Blueprint Game Developer, Online Course
—Unreal 5.0 C++ Developer: Learn C++ and Make Video Games
—Unreal Environment Design
—C++ Fundamentals: Game Programming for Beginners
—Certificado de Superación del Nivel Básico en Francés (A2)
Honors & Awards
—5th Place, CyberOlympics 2017
—Honor Diploma for Academic Merits
Education
—Tokio School — Master in Video Game Programming with Unreal (2020–2022)
—Tokio School — Advanced Course in Video Game Design (2020–2022)
—IES Poeta Paco Mollà — Sr. Technician, Multiplatform App Development (2017–2019)
—Industrial Organization School — Java FullStack & Angular Course (2019)

Let's build something great.

↗ LinkedIn ↗ GitHub ↗ itch.io ↗ Fab
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