About

Background

’m Natasha Kononenko, an experienced developer based in Seattle, WA, with six years of professional experience in software engineering. Most recently, I worked at Google, specializing in ML compiler development on the IREE team. My role focused on translating high-level models into efficient, low-level operations to optimize performance—a skill that feeds directly into my love for solving complex technical challenges in game development.

I earned my BSc from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where I double-majored in Computer Science and Interactive Media & Game Development. During my time there, I interned with MassDigi’s Summer Innovation Program as a Producer and Programmer, where I guided a team through the end-to-end development of a 3D mobile game, Hyper Thunder Run 198X. That early experience solidified my passion for the collaborative, multi-disciplinary nature of making games.

Game development has always been my dream. I thrive in every part of the process—from prototyping systems to crafting polished art and animations. Whether I’m breaking down complex engineering problems or stepping outside my comfort zone in a game jam to focus on design or illustration, I bring a versatile and collaborative mindset to every project.

Direct link to my resume

Skills

Languages

C++
C#
Python
Java

Engines

Unity
Godot
Unreal Engine

ML

Tensorflow
PyTorch
Jax
TFLite
Tosa

Frameworks

LLVM
MLIR
Cmake
gcc
git

Art Software

Maya
Zbrush
Procreate
Pixaki

Experience

Google

  • Began in the Engineering Residency program, exploring diverse roles like Android development for Google Maps and sensor-based research in Google Research.

  • Joined the IREE team in Google Research (later DeepMind), building a hardware-agnostic compiler for ML applications. Played a key role in breaking down complex mathematical operations (e.g., matrix multiplications, convolutions) into optimized implementations.

  • Grew with IREE from an early-stage project to a widely adopted tool with 200+ contributors.

  • Currently working on ML application towards hardware design.

MassDigi Summer Innovation Program

  • Led the development of Hyper Thunder Run 198X, a 3D mobile game, as Producer and Programmer.

  • Balanced team vision and scope, ensuring the project stayed on track while keeping the team motivated.

  • Built frameworks and tools to streamline workflows for artists, including level generation tools and systems.

Personal projects

I’ve been passionate about games for as long as I can remember. Game development lets me combine my technical curiosity with my love for art and design—a perfect blend of logic and creativity. My personal projects reflect this balance, as I often use them to explore areas outside my comfort zone, like animation, storytelling, and level design. These experiences not only make me a better developer but also help me understand and collaborate with teammates from diverse disciplines.

Please check out my projects here.