Jacob Fernandez | Game Programmer

[02] projects

3 entries

What I've Built

A renderer written from scratch, a stealth AI system, and a combat framework. Written in C++ and C#, profiled and measured.

renderer.cppC++ · OpenGL · GLSL

OpenGL Graphics Engine

Forward renderer written from scratch. Blinn-Phong lighting with Fresnel-weighted reflections, cubemap sampling, and framebuffer render-to-texture. Model loading via Assimp, with a live ImGui panel for tuning material and light parameters at runtime.

205M

triangles at 80 fps · 1440p

Blinn-PhongFresnelCubemapFBO / RTTAssimpImGui

read the breakdown source

AIController.csC# · Unity

Metal Gear Mechanics

Stealth AI with waypoint patrol, dot-product vision cones, and raycast line-of-sight confirmation over a three-phase scan and search state machine. Detection runs through a static shared collider buffer with layer-masked overlap queries, so per-frame heap allocation stays at zero regardless of agent count.

0 B

allocated · 584 agents · 8.7 ms

NavMeshVision conesRaycast LOSZero-alloc queriesObject pooling

read the breakdown source

HSCombatComponent.cppC++ · Unreal Engine 5

Hack & Slash Combat System

Component-driven melee combat across 30 gameplay classes. Combo windows, sword traces and attack-finished events are driven by seven custom AnimNotifies, with separate components for attack magnetism, hit feedback, style ranking, and a dynamic combat camera.

0.04 ms

Blueprint overhead · built in C++

AnimNotifyCombo windowsSword tracesAttack magnetismStyle ranking

read the breakdown source

Measurements taken on RTX 4080 SUPER / Ryzen 7 9800X3D, Unity 2022.3 editor.

[03] reel & media

Gameplay Reel

A showcase of gameplay systems, mechanics, and engine work. Updated directly on Vimeo, always reflecting the latest version.

Gameplay Programming Reel

vimeo.com

Full gameplay programming reel featuring systems built in UE5, Unity, and custom engines. Hosted on Vimeo, always current.

JacobF_GameplayProgrammingReel

Class Project Showcase

linkedin.com

Featured class project video posted to LinkedIn. Demonstrates gameplay systems and technical implementation in a production context.

Watch on LinkedIn →

Videos link directly to their sources, content stays current when updated on Vimeo or LinkedIn.

[04] skills

Technical Arsenal

//Programming Languages

C++

Python

JavaScript

HTML5

CSS3

//Game Engines & Frameworks

Unreal Engine 5

Unity

OpenGL

UE5 Blueprint

PyQt6

//Development Tools

Git

Visual Studio

VS Code

Rider

Perforce

FFmpeg

//Technical Expertise

Systems ProgrammingObject-Oriented ProgrammingPerformance OptimizationMultithreadingFile I/OUI DevelopmentGameplay ProgrammingAI SystemsMemory ManagementDesign PatternsRendering PipelineShader SystemsBehavior TreesGameplay Ability SystemEnhanced InputNiagara VFXData TablesData AssetsBlackboardPerforce / Version Control

[05] experience

3 roles

Experience & Roles

University of the Incarnate Word

Game Programming Teaching Assistant

TeachingCurrentSep 2025 – Jul 2026

▸Teach advanced C++ and Unreal Engine 5 to students transitioning from C#/Unity, with a focus on systems programming, memory management, and design patterns.
▸Develop comprehensive curriculum: PowerPoint presentations, coding labs, and project specifications covering pointers, file I/O, and gameplay systems.
▸Mentor students on debugging techniques, code review practices, and professional software development workflows.
▸Guide students through complex implementations including AI behavior trees, movement systems, and Gameplay Ability System architecture.

UIW · MFA Graduate Prototyping Program

Graduate Game Developer

DevelopmentCurrent2024 – 2026

▸Collaborate in a team-based environment completing multiple prototypes and production projects across the full development lifecycle.
▸Developed a custom OpenGL graphics engine implementing a complete rendering pipeline and shader systems.
▸Currently developing a turn-based horror game for the Summer 2026 semester, focusing on gameplay systems and technical design.
▸Completed a hero-based prototype demonstrating the full development cycle from concept to playable build.

University of the Incarnate Word

UPGRADE Program Representative

Outreach2022 – 2025

▸Showcased personal projects and the programming curriculum to high school students to promote UIW's game programming track.
▸Demonstrated real-world applications of C++, C#, Unreal Engine, and Unity workflows to prospective students.
▸Represented the program at recruitment events, communicating technical concepts effectively to diverse audiences.

[06] github

4 pinned

Open Source & Work

Jacob Fernandez

@JakeeUp

UIW MGD Programmer · C++ systems programmer who does it for the love of the game.

70+

Repositories

San Antonio

Texas

View Profile

TopDown_Mechanics

Unity 6 third/first-person hybrid shooter inspired by Rainbow Six Vegas perspective system.

Engine_OpenGLProject

Rendering pipeline from scratch: shaders, 3D model loading, ImGui integration.

C++

cs-skin-api

C++ REST API serving live CS2 market data with a knapsack budget optimizer. Uses Crow, libcurl, nlohmann/json.

C++

HandTracking-TileGame

Tile game using Python and the MediaPipe hand tracking library.

Python

[07] about

Who I Am

I'm a game programmer and software engineer pursuing my MFA in Game Programming at the University of the Incarnate Word, where I also serve as a Teaching Assistant for advanced C++ and Unreal Engine 5 courses.

My work spans both worlds. From gameplay systems, AI behavior trees, and engine programming in C++, to full-stack applications, REST APIs, and clean object-oriented design. Whether it's a combat system or a backend service, I focus on solid architecture, efficient data structures, and code that ships.

Years Programming

10+

Projects Built

MFA

Graduate Degree

2024

Top Programmer Award

Engineer.cpp

1// Engineer.cpp

3class Engineer {

4public:

5 string name = "Jacob Fernandez";

6 string location = "San Antonio, TX";

8 vector<string> languages = {

9 "C++", "C#", "Python", "TypeScript"

10 };

12 vector<string> focus = {

13 "Gameplay Programming",

14 "AI Systems", "Full-Stack Dev", "REST APIs"

15 };

17 vector<string> principles = {

18 "OOP", "Data Structures", "System Design"

19 };

21 void build() {

22 while (passionate) {

23 learn(); create(); ship();

24 }

25 }

26};

[08] education

2 degrees

Academic Background

Accelerated Concurrent Program: B.F.A. & M.F.A. simultaneously · 2021 – 2026

2024 – 2026

Accelerated

Master of Fine Arts

Game Programming

Expected 2026

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas

Triple A Programmer Award · 2024

Relevant Coursework

Advanced C++ ProgrammingC# ProgrammingUnityUnreal Engine 5Systems ArchitectureGameplay ProgrammingAI SystemsPerformance OptimizationObject-Oriented ProgrammingWeb Development

2021 – 2026

Concurrent

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Game Programming

Minor: Computer Interactive Systems (CIS)

Expected 2026

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas

Core Coursework

Data Structures & AlgorithmsComputer GraphicsGame Engine ArchitectureSoftware EngineeringDatabase Systems

// CIS Minor Coursework

Web DevelopmentObject-Oriented ProgrammingDatabase SystemsPython Programming

[09] contact

Let's Build Something

Whether you're looking for a game programmer, a systems engineer, or just want to talk C++, I'd love to connect.

jacob@jacobfernandez.dev

JacobFernandezProgrammer

GitHub

JakeeUp

Location

San Antonio, Texas

Send Me an Email