Senior Graphics Algorithm Architect - Vulkan / Rendering / Hardware Ray Tracing

European Tech Recruit; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

European Tech Recruit seeks a Senior Graphics Algorithm Architect to own the research, design, and optimization of breakthrough rendering algorithms. The role focuses on real-time GPU rendering, hardware ray tracing, and energy-efficient techniques across the full algorithm lifecycle on-site in Cambridge.

You will drive algorithmic strategy, publish research, file patents, and push for maximum frame rates within power budgets.

Qualifications

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Computer Graphics, or a related technical discipline.
• Strong algorithmic foundation in modern rendering pipelines, hardware ray tracing, path tracing, or real-time spatial reconstruction.
• High proficiency in low-level algorithm development and memory optimization using modern graphics APIs (Vulkan, DirectX 12, Metal, or OpenCL).
• Located in or open to relocating to Cambridge, UK.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural research and formulate novel algorithms for next-generation GPU rendering pipelines.
• Design and refine high-performance techniques for Ray Tracing, Path Tracing, PBR, SSR/occlusion, and neural reconstruction.
• Map and tune complex mathematical models to maximize throughput on parallel GPU architectures.
• Eliminate bottlenecks across geometry pipelines, shader compilation, texture streaming, and thread scheduling.
• Monitor academic and industry advances to guide future GPU architecture choices, filing patents and publishing papers where appropriate.

Skills

Graphics research

Real-time rendering

GPU algorithms

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science/Applied Mathematics/Computer Graphics

Tools

Vulkan

DirectX 12

Metal

OpenCL

Job description

Senior Graphics Algorithm Architect - Vulkan / Rendering / Hardware Ray Tracing

Join a global technology organisation researching and developing cutting-edge computer graphics architectures and real-time rendering algorithms. Operating at the forefront of rendering innovation, visual computing, and hardware acceleration, the company is building foundational algorithms designed to power next-generation graphical environments and energy-efficient rendering platforms.

This principal-level technical architecture role offers the opportunity to define and drive the algorithmic strategy for novel rendering systems. The position combines advanced graphics research, real-time hardware-software co-design, hardware ray tracing, physically based lighting, and machine-learning-driven image reconstruction.

Role Overview

You will take technical ownership of the research, structural design, and low-level optimization of breakthrough rendering algorithms on-site in Cambridge.

Your responsibilities will cover the full algorithm lifecycle—from conceptualizing mathematical techniques for complex ray/path tracing and surface transport to adapting software for GPU execution, filing key patents, publishing research, and squeezing maximum frame rates out of constrained power budgets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural research and formulation of novel algorithms for next-generation GPU rendering pipelines.
• Design and refine high-performance techniques spanning Ray Tracing, Path Tracing, Physically Based Rendering (PBR), screen-space reflections/occlusion, and neural reconstruction frameworks.
• Map and tune complex mathematical models to maximize throughput on parallel GPU architectures.
• Eliminate system bottlenecks across geometry pipelines, shader compilation execution, texture streaming layers, and hardware thread scheduling.
• Optimize rendering workloads for peak frame rates, minimal latency, and exceptional energy efficiency.
• Monitor global academic and industry advancements to guide future GPU architectural choices, filing patents and publishing white papers where appropriate.

Required Experience

• Deep, long-term expertise in computer graphics research, real-time rendering systems, or GPU algorithm design.
• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Computer Graphics, or a related technical discipline.
• Strong algorithmic foundation in modern rendering pipelines, hardware ray tracing, path tracing, or real-time spatial reconstruction.
• High proficiency in low-level algorithm development and memory optimization using modern graphics APIs (e.g., Vulkan, DirectX 12, Metal, or OpenCL).
• Practical experience optimizing parallel execution, geometry stages, texture bandwidth, or shader compiler behavior.
• Located in or open to relocating to Cambridge, UK.
• Preferred: PhD in Computer Graphics, GPU Architecture, or a related field, accompanied by a record of peer-reviewed publications or granted patents.
• Preferred: Proven track record of transitioning advanced research algorithms into commercial GPU products or shipping game engine runtimes.

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