Engine Programmer - RuneScape Dragonwilds

Location: Cambridge, UK – This position offers flexible working options, including predominantly remote work. Applicants should be based (or willing to relocate) within a comfortable commuting distance of our office to attend onsite as required.

Are you able to optimise the Unreal engine to enable a stable Gameplay experience for our player base?

This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the core technical foundations our game runs on in Unreal Engine 5. You’ll work primarily in C++ to extend and integrate engine-level systems, improve runtime performance and stability, and troubleshoot complex low-level issues that sit beneath gameplay code. Your work ensures the engine and shared technology are reliable, efficient, and scalable so the wider team can build features quickly and confidently. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Develop and maintain UE5 engine-adjacent systems in C++ 
• Build reusable core frameworks and shared modules 
• Profile and optimize runtime performance (frame pacing, hitches, memory) 
• Debug and resolve complex crashes and low-level issues 

What we’re looking for: 

• Strong Unreal Engine 5 experience (deep working knowledge of UE5 architecture/workflows) 
• Proficiency with C++ (shipping-quality code, memory/ownership, performance-aware design) 
• Profiling & optimization in Unreal (Unreal Insights, stat tools; hitch/frame pacing focus) 
• Experience building/maintaining core frameworks and shared engine-adjacent systems

What we offer:

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

• Private Healthcare, including Dental Plan.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.
• Minimum 6% Pension contributions.
• Life Insurance.
• 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!

Right to Work Statement

This role is only open to applicants who have the permanent right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide or take over visa sponsorship for this position, either now or in the future. Applicants must therefore be able to demonstrate their ongoing eligibility to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship.

About Jagex

We are Jagex: The RuneScape Company. Home to one of gaming’s most enduring success stories. We create deep, community-powered games with worlds that evolve, inspire, and endure. Our flagship MMORPG franchise, RuneScape, has welcomed over 300 million player accounts, inspiring generations of players across PC and mobile for 25 years.

As we begin our 26th year, we are accelerating our strategy to expand RuneScape into a broader ecosystem of forever games and connected experiences, grounded in a renewed commitment to integrity and fair play. This includes the reduction of monetisation mechanics, as well as the launch of RuneScape: DragonWilds into Steam Early Access in 2025, representing a major step in building a multi-genre future for the RuneScape universe. We remain focused on building enduring worlds, empowering player-led innovation, and laying the foundations for the boldest era in RuneScape’s history. For more information, visit www.jagex.com.

Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, we are home to passionate creators, storytellers, engineers, and even a few dreamers, all united by a single mission to shape the future of online worlds and empower players to make them their own. We’re looking for people to join us who share our ambitions and values. We foster an inclusive workplace built on trust, autonomy, and a shared passion for creating experiences that inspire our communities.
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 & player needs, and We Seize The Day by making the most of every opportunity.

Join us. The next era of RuneScape and the next chapter of Jagex: The RuneScape Company starts now.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and we recruit, develop, and promote based on merit and ability.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the recruitment process, please let us know when you’re invited to interview.