Senior Systems Designer - RuneScape : Dragonwilds

Jagex Ltd.; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading game development company is looking for a Senior Systems Designer to enhance gameplay experiences in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. This role involves designing scalable systems that shape player interactions in a multiplayer environment. Candidates should possess expertise in MMO design principles, experience in balancing gameplay systems, and a collaborative mindset. Benefits include private healthcare, pension contributions, and flexible working hours, alongside a commitment to inclusivity in the workplace.

Benefits

Private Healthcare

Minimum 6% Pension contributions

Flexible working hours

25 days annual leave

Discretionary annual performance bonus

Qualifications

• Deep familiarity with MMO design principles including economy loops.
• Proven experience designing and balancing interconnected gameplay systems.
• Expertise in progression, economy, and crafting systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and own core scalable systems for multiplayer experiences.
• Prototype and iterate to balance survival challenges.
• Mentor junior designers and collaborate with teams.

Skills

MMO design principles

system design experience

gameplay systems balancing

economy and crafting expertise

analytical mindset

collaboration and communication

Job description

Location: Cambridge, UK – (Remote within the UK with team onsite days in the Cambridge office approx. 4 times per year). This role is a Fixed Term Contract anticipated to end mid‑late 2027. Are you a designer who loves creating deep, interconnected gameplay experiences that engage players over the long term? As a Senior Systems Designer on RuneScape: Dragonwilds, our open‑world survival crafting game developed in Unreal Engine 5, you will take ownership of the scalable systems that define progression, economy, crafting, and survival, shaping how players live, grow, and thrive in a shared world in this large multiplayer live game.

Responsibilities

• Design and own core scalable systems for a large‑scale multiplayer, live‑service experience, including progression, resource management, economy, skills, and more.
• Build interconnected systems that reinforce RuneScape's identity: freedom of playstyle, mastery, and player‑driven choices.
• Prototype, test, and iterate to balance survival challenge with fairness and long‑term reward.
• Integrate systems across content, engineering, and art to ensure consistency and immersion.
• Use data, analytics, and player feedback to tune systems and maintain live balance.
• Define and evolve survival mechanics such as crafting, durability, hunger, weather, and resource scarcity.
• Balance risk, reward, and progression pacing to maintain tension and engagement over time.
• Mentor junior designers, providing guidance on systemic thinking and design fundamentals.
• Collaborate with live‑ops and production to support updates, expansions, and system evolution.
• Identify and resolve system‑level issues or exploits before they impact the live environment.
• Advocate for player experience and RuneScape's values across the team.
• Contribute to creative innovation while honouring the feel and history of the RuneScape universe.
• Operate autonomously with strong ownership and clear design intent.
• Continually seek new ways to improve systems, pipelines, and team collaboration.

Qualifications

• Deep familiarity with MMO design principles: economy loops, player‑driven progression, and emergent play.
• Proven experience designing and maintaining systems in a live MMO, multiplayer survival, or similar large‑scale game.
• Demonstrable professional games industry experience working autonomously in a system design role, ideally on multiplayer or live‑service titles.
• Proven experience designing and balancing interconnected gameplay systems.
• Expertise in progression, economy, and crafting systems, with an analytical and data‑informed mindset.
• Strong understanding of MMO design principles, including economy loops, player progression, and emergent gameplay.
• An analytical mindset, combining data insights, player psychology, and design intuition.
• Collaborative, communicative, and comfortable working across multiple teams and disciplines to translate creative direction into functional, scalable systems.

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, including 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 Fellowship by collaborating and sharing openly.
• We Hone our Craft by always learning and improving.
• We Honour our Vows by being honest and transparent.
• We are our Customers' Heroes by striving to understand our team and player needs.
• We Seize The Day by making the most of every opportunity.

Benefits

• 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.
• …and so much more!