Head of 3D Visualisation & Unreal Development

AtkinsRéalis; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive salary

Training & development

Flexible holidays

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a senior technical leader to advance our real-time visualization capabilities using Unreal Engine. You will set the technical direction, standards and innovation roadmap for interactive visualization, VR and digital twins, while ensuring high-quality, scalable delivery across global projects.

The successful candidate will mentor engineers, define scalable workflows, and collaborate with design, development and project teams to drive innovation and robust performance.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in real-time applications using Unreal Engine (UE5 preferred).
• Strong Blueprint development and gameplay systems expertise.
• Working knowledge of C++ for Unreal Engine.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the real-time visualisation strategy across Creative Design.
• Establish technical standards, best practices and scalable workflows.
• Lead Unreal Engine development for interactive, immersive and digital twin solutions.
• Mentor team members and build technical capability.
• Drive innovation and adoption of emerging technologies.
• Support project estimation, quotations and technical planning.
• Maintain technical standards, governance and documentation.

Skills

Unreal Engine

Blueprint

C++

Leadership

Performance optimization

VR/immersive

Digital twins

Estimation & planning

Mentoring

Stakeholder management

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

Overview

Creative Design - who are we?

We are a multi-discipline, talented team of over 80 people, including UX/UI designers, graphic designers, animators, visualisers, real-time and web developers all over the globe. By harnessing outstanding, innovative, and creative talent, we transform the way our clients communicate, connect, and engage with their projects.

Our design principles underpin everything we do. We're problem solvers who are excited by working together to find a solution. We create bespoke communications which focus on bringing meaning to content, make information more accessible and add value to projects. We create and implement viable concepts that utilise technology in a way that enhances outcomes and creates efficiencies. We invest in innovation and focus on upcoming technologies.

We are seeking a senior technical leader to lead and evolve our real-time visualisation capability, combining deep Unreal Engine expertise with strategic leadership. The role will set the technical direction, standards and innovation roadmap for interactive visualisation, digital twins, VR and immersive experiences, while ensuring high-quality, scalable delivery.

The successful candidate will bridge technical development and visualisation, driving the adoption of real-time technologies across the business and developing the team's capability through leadership, mentoring and technical guidance. They will play a key role in shaping the future of Creative Design's real-time visualisation offering and ensuring the team remains at the forefront of emerging technologies.

Your role

• Define and lead the real-time visualisation strategy across Creative Design.
• Establish technical standards, best practices and scalable workflows.
• Lead Unreal Engine development for interactive, immersive and digital twin solutions.
• Mentor team members and build technical capability.
• Drive innovation and adoption of emerging technologies.
• Support project scoping, planning, business development and work-winning activities.
• Collaborate across design, development and project teams.
• Ensure consistent quality, performance and client satisfaction.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership for complex projects.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Support effective global delivery and consistency across regions.
• Lead, develop and performance-manage the team.
• Manage OKRs, resource planning and capability forecasting.
• Support project estimation, quotations and technical planning.
• Maintain technical standards, governance and documentation.
• Support recruitment, training and succession planning.
• Contribute to technology investment and capability strategies.

About you

• Extensive experience developing real-time applications in Unreal Engine (UE5 preferred).
• Advanced Blueprint development, gameplay systems and interaction framework expertise.
• Strong understanding of Unreal Engine architecture, with working knowledge of C++ development and the ability to extend and optimise Blueprint-based systems.
• Proven leadership of technical teams and capability development.
• Strong understanding of optimisation, debugging and performance management.
• Experience delivering VR, immersive and interactive visualisation solutions.
• Ability to develop scalable frameworks, reusable systems and technical standards.
• Knowledge of digital twins and data-driven visualisation workflows.
• Commercial awareness, including project scoping, estimation and delivery planning.
• Strong mentoring, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting business development and work-winning activities.
• Passion for innovation, emerging technologies and continuous improvement.

Desirable skills

• Experience within AEC, infrastructure or engineering sectors.
• Experience developing standalone VR applications and deployment pipelines.
• Knowledge of AR, MR and WebXR technologies.
• Experience integrating BIM, GIS, Cesium, IoT or operational data into Unreal Engine.
• Experience delivering immersive environments and large-scale interactive installations.
• Working knowledge of Unity and application migration strategies.
• Experience establishing technical governance and best practice frameworks.
• Previous line management or discipline leadership experience.
• Working knowledge of C++ for Unreal Engine development, including extending Blueprint systems, creating reusable gameplay frameworks and optimising application performance.
• Experience delivering WebGL, WebXR or browser-based 3D visualisation solutions and an understanding of optimisation techniques, including rendering performance, asset streaming, memory management and scalability across desktop and mobile platforms.
• Experience defining technical approaches for real-time 3D content across Unreal Engine and web-delivered 3D environments.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive - at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits - Careers at AtkinsRéalis

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.