Game Systems Engineer - RuneScape

Location: Cambridge, UK – (This position can accommodate flexible working options. However, candidates must be based (or be willing to relocate) within a comfortable commuting distance of our Cambridge office to be able to attend onsite as required)

As part of the RuneScape Game Technologies Team you will be working on the operation and on-going enhancement of the RuneScape game engine and associated systems, developing game systems that provide value to our customers and allow the product content developers to produce features. 

Responsibilities:

• Programming using the team’s core and other languages as required to service assigned and scheduled tasks.  

• Work with production and senior members of the team to generate tasks and documentation detailing code design approach and implementation. Aid the test process by writing QA instructions + develop & update code-tests where applicable. 

• Working on a variety of projects in the department covering various aspects of the group’s technological domain, making good use of support tools (e.g. Profiler, debugger, code-analysis tools) to ensure your code is of high quality. 

• Start to take ownership and responsibility for some areas of the code base, becoming an expert, looking for improvements and sharing that knowledge with the team. 

• Assess new technologies and adapt to and promote them where applicable. 

• Perform maintenance tasks to keep internal processes and systems working in good order for other developers and for our internal customers. 

• Provide realistic time estimates for assigned tasks to stakeholders, with tasks broken down to a suitable size and tracked according to current production process (e.g. Jira, sprints, etc.). 

• Always aim to work efficiently and productively, striving for the most optimal ways to deliver value to our customers. 

• Be willing to put forward ideas that can improve our technology or processes, and to positively critique those put forward by others. 

• Build strong working relationships with team members across various disciplines. 

Required:

• Deep knowledge of an object-oriented language (preferably C++), design and design patterns 
• Experience with Java 
• Experience working on established code bases 
• Analytical mind and strong problem-solving skills 
• Strong maths skills and experience 
• Solid debugging and profiling skills 
• Familiarity with version control systems eg. GIT, Perforce 

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: 

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 & values - We foster an inclusive workplace built on trust, autonomy, and a shared passion for creating experiences which 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.