Senior Gameplay Engineer - RuneScape Dragonwilds

Jagex Limited; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Jagex Limited is seeking a Senior Gameplay Programmer for their new open-world survival game, RuneScape Dragonwilds. The ideal candidate will leverage their C++ expertise to innovate and implement engaging gameplay features, collaborating with diverse teams to enhance player experience. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a globally recognized franchise in a flexible, inclusive environment with a strong focus on continuous improvement.

Benefits

Private Healthcare

Pension contributions

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Insurance

Annual performance bonus

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Proven experience in designing and implementing multiplayer game features.
• In-depth knowledge of C++ and experience in UE4 or UE5.
• Demonstrable ability to mentor others and improve team practices.

Responsibilities

• Create and update various gameplay features.
• Collaborate with designers and artists to deliver high-quality output.
• Test and optimize gameplay to ensure polished experiences.

Skills

C++

game design

mentoring

optimizing code

technical communication

Tools

Perforce

UE4

UE5

Job description

Location: Cambridge, UK – (Remote available within the UK with team onsite days in the Cambridge office approx. 4 times per year)

Are you an experienced Gameplay Programmer who enjoys collaborating with designers, animators and the wider team to help build a rich immersive world on a brand-new game with a hugely popular IP?

As a Senior Gameplay Programmer on RuneScape Dragonwilds, our new open world survival crafting game, currently in early access and being developed in UE5; You will utilise your expertise with C++ to help your team to create and implement complex gameplay features for this new multiplayer experience in the RuneScape universe.

This is a hugely impactful role within the team where you will work closely with peers and the wider production and development team to innovate and create a deeply connected and exciting gameplay experience.

What you’ll be doing:

• Create, maintain and update a wide variety of gameplay features.
• Select the best technical solutions, architectures and pipelines for each task.
• Collaborate with designers and artists to form strike teams with strong outputs.
• Test, debug, profile and optimise the title to deliver polished games.
• Identify risks and opportunities presented during the development of the game, providing solutions to resolve potentially complex problems.
• Support, mentor and share best practice with more junior engineers and your peers.

What we’re looking for:

• Expertise in designing and implementing complex gameplay features for a multiplayer game.
• Strong understanding of game design and a player-focused mindset.
• In-depth knowledge of C++ with an ability to apply this experience with other programming languages (c#, python, etc).
• Proven experience working closely with non-engineering stakeholders and communicating technical solutions in an easy-to-understand manner.
• Knowledgeable in profiling and optimising code.
• Proven ability to design complex systems using appropriate patterns, solving architectural and system-level problems.
• Good knowledge of source code repository usage (Perforce or similar).
• Demonstrable ability to mentor others and contributing to the team’s continuous improvement by sharing and refining best practices.
• At ease with independence and ownership, allowing yourself to co-organise your own strike team and allocate resources intelligently.
• Experience working in UE4 or UE5 C++.

What we offer:

When you join Jagex you can look forward to a generous Perks & Benefits package including:

• Private Healthcare, including Dental Plan.
• Minimum 6% Pension contributions.
• Employee Assistance Programme & onsite Counselling.
• Life Insurance.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.
• Enhanced family leave policies from day 1.
• Flexible working hours.
• 25 days annual leave + Bank holidays & the option to buy/sell holidays + so much more!

About Jagex:

Jagex is a leader in developing and publishing deep, engaging online games that connect millions of players worldwide. Best known for the RuneScape franchise, which includes two of the world’s longest running and most successful MMORPGs, in Old School Runescape and Runescape, and the open-world survival crafting game, Runescape: Dragonwilds; we have proven success in delivering immersive Forever Games and fostering strong player communities.

We strive to foster an inclusive workplace built on trust, autonomy, and a shared passion for creating forever games.
Our values guide everything we do:We Embrace Fellowshipby collaborating and sharing openly.We Hone our Craftby always learning and improving; weHonour our Vowsby being honest and transparent; we are ourCustomers’ Heroesby striving to understand our team & player needs, and weSeize The Dayby making the most of every opportunity.

With over two decades of experience, and over 400 people in our team, we continue to innovate in live game development, leveraging data-driven insights, and a commitment to player-first game design. We have a diverse and talented team where creativity, collaboration, and community-driven game development drives everything we do.

As part of Jagex, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a globally successful franchise, contribute to exciting new projects, and be part of a company that hugely values both our employees and our players.