Senior Software Engineer - Manchester

Roku; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Retirement options

Mental health support

Financial wellness support

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Roku in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced C++ Software Engineer for UI and rendering system work. You will optimize core frameworks, lead bottleneck investigations, and collaborate with firmware teams to extract peak performance across devices.

The role emphasizes AI-assisted optimization, deep debugging, and mentoring juniors, with a hybrid office/remote model in Manchester. Strong C++ and graphics experience are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering with heavy C++ (C++14/17/20).
• Deep system programming: memory management, multithreading, hardware abstraction.
• Experience with graphics APIs and rendering pipelines.
• Python tooling and automation; BrightScript/JavaScript a plus.
• Strong root-cause analysis using GDB/Valgrind or profilers.
• Knowledge of AI applications and using generative AI to accelerate development.
• Proactive mindset for performance optimization in embedded systems.

Responsibilities

• Architect and optimize core C++ UI frameworks and rendering engines for diverse hardware.
• Lead investigations into bottlenecks, memory leaks, and GPU/CPU sync issues.
• Develop and maintain low-level graphics APIs and layout systems.
• Integrate AI/ML capabilities at the systems level for code optimization.
• Collaborate with firmware and driver teams for hardware-specific optimizations.
• Mentor juniors via code reviews, design sessions, and core documentation.
• Implement advanced debugging tools and automated performance regression suites.

Skills

C++

System programming

Multithreading

AI applications

GDB

OpenGL

Python

JavaScript

Tools

BrightScript

Vulkan

OpenGL

Valgrind

Job description

Salary: £60,000 - 100,000 per year

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5+ years of software engineering experience with a heavy focus on C++ (C++14/17/20).
• Deep understanding of systems programming, including memory management, multi-threading, and hardware-software abstraction layers.
• Experience with graphics APIs (e.g., OpenGL, Vulkan, or proprietary embedded graphics stacks) and rendering pipelines.
• Proficiency in Python for tooling and automation, with a working knowledge of BrightScript or JavaScript being a significant plus.
• Strong root cause analysis skills, specifically using tools like GDB, Valgrind, or platform-specific profilers.
• Knowledge of AI applications and hands-on experience using generative AI tools to accelerate systems-level development.
• A proactive mindset with a passion for squeezing every drop of performance out of embedded systems and a commitment to data-driven optimization.

Responsibilities:

• Architect and optimize core C++ UI frameworks and rendering engines to ensure smooth performance across a diverse range of hardware profiles.
• Lead technical investigations into system-level bottlenecks, memory leaks, and GPU/CPU synchronization issues.
• Develop and maintain low-level graphics APIs and layout systems that serve as the backbone for our application ecosystem.
• Integrate AI/ML capabilities at the systems level, leveraging generative AI tools to optimize code generation and automate performance profiling.
• Collaborate with firmware and driver teams to leverage hardware-specific optimizations and ensure seamless integration with the underlying OS.
• Mentor junior developers through deep-dive code reviews, architectural design sessions, and technical documentation of core systems.
• Drive engineering excellence by implementing advanced debugging tools, automated performance regression suites, and modern C++ best practices.

Technologies:

• AI
• Architect
• Backbone
• BrightScript
• Embedded
• Firmware
• Hardware
• Support
• JavaScript
• OpenGL
• Python
• Roku
• UX UI Design
• C++
• LESS

More:

We are Roku, the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, working to power every television in the world and connect the entire TV ecosystem. Our UI Systems team builds the high-performance engines and core graphics infrastructure that power millions of devices, operating in a collaborative, high-trust environment with firmware and silicon teams. We offer a fast-paced, inclusive culture where everyone is focused on the companys success, with a hybrid working model that is generally in the office Monday through Thursday and flexible for remote work on Fridays, plus a broad benefits package that may include healthcare, life, accident, disability, commuter, retirement options, and access to mental health and financial wellness support.

last updated 40 week of 2026