Tools, in the game development world, are specialized software applications that are designed to facilitate the work of designers, artists, and programmers. A tools engineer is the individual responsible for creating and maintaining that software for the studio. Game development studios use a number of third-party systems like Maya, Houdini, and the Unreal engine to bring characters and environments to life, but many studios also rely on in-house engineers to develop and maintain proprietary systems that are specifically designed to meet the needs of a particular game.