At a Glance
- Tasks: Extend and optimise Unreal Engine systems for high-quality game development.
- Company: Join Cast Iron Games, a people-first studio focused on craft and collaboration.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, competitive salary, 25 days leave, and wellness support.
- Other info: Mentorship opportunities and a dynamic creative community at Tileyard North.
- Why this job: Make an impact on AAA games in a supportive, balanced environment.
- Qualifications: Strong Unreal Engine experience and excellent C++ programming skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
At Cast Iron Games, we build technically ambitious games in a calm, focused environment, where every team member has a voice. Based in Tileyard North, we collaborate with high-quality partners on high-quality projects, guided by clarity, consistency, and mutual respect. We're a young and growing studio delivering AAA games. Our experienced team has contributed to some of the industry's biggest AAA and independent titles, and we're building a supportive, balanced environment where great work happens without crunch.
As a Senior Engine Programmer, you'll focus on extending, optimising, and maintaining Unreal Engine systems that support game development across the project. You'll work on engine-level features, tooling, performance improvements, and platform-specific solutions that enable the wider team to build high-quality experiences efficiently. You'll be trusted to solve complex technical challenges, influence technical direction, and help establish best practices across the engineering team.
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and maintain engine-level systems within Unreal Engine
- Extend and customise Unreal systems where project requirements demand it
- Improve performance, memory usage, loading times, and scalability
- Develop tools, workflows, and automation that improve team efficiency
- Investigate and resolve low-level technical issues across platforms
- Work closely with gameplay, design, art, and production teams
- Contribute to technical planning, architecture discussions, and estimation
- Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through reviews and knowledge sharing
- Help maintain engineering standards and documentation
What We're Looking For
Technical Experience
- Strong experience working with Unreal Engine 4 or 5 in production
- Excellent C++ programming skills
- Deep understanding of Unreal's engine architecture and core systems
- Experience working with performance optimisation, memory management, and profiling
- Experience extending engine functionality and developing technical tools
- Familiarity with build systems, asset pipelines, and automation workflows
- Experience supporting console or PC development
- Comfortable using Perforce and Jira
Ways of Working
- Comfortable owning complex technical systems independently
- Able to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Proactive in identifying risks, blockers, and long-term technical concerns
- Supportive of teammates through mentoring and knowledge sharing
- Passionate about maintainable, production-ready code
Bonus Points
- Experience with build pipelines, CI/CD, and automation tooling
- Experience shipping Unreal titles on console
- Familiarity with networking, streaming, or platform systems
- Experience supporting multi-project or co-development environments
Why Cast Iron Games
- A people-first studio with a clear focus on craft, clarity, and collaboration
- A high-trust team where experience is valued and voices are heard
- A respectful, experienced team with a strong engineering culture
- The opportunity to ship performance-optimised, cross-platform games you're proud of
- Projects that offer real variety. Different game engines, new challenges, constant growth
- Creative surroundings at Tileyard North, with a supportive creative community
- Competitive salary, flexible hours and professional development support
- Opportunities to lead with clarity, autonomy, and real impact
- No crunch. No egos. Just good code, good people and good games
What to Expect / Key Benefits
- Start your day any time between 8:00am and 10:00am
- 35 working hours per week with a 1-hour lunch break (with the opportunity to flex down to 30 minutes or up to 2 hours)
- 25 days annual leave + 8 days bank holiday
- 1 day leave for your birthday and 1 day leave if you're moving house
- Length of service increases are 1 day per year of service up to maximum of 8 additional days
- Up to 8 days discretionary annual leave during our end of year break
- Potential for annual performance bonus
- Free breakfast options, juice, hot drinks and fruit
- Employee referral bonus (up to £2000!)
- Group Life Assurance – 4 x annual salary payable to nominated beneficiaries through an expression of wishes form.
- Income Protection – covers you up for up to 50% of monthly salary for 2 years (after a 26 week deferred period, i.e. when SSP runs out)
- Critical Illness Cover – lump sum of 1 x annual salary on diagnosis of a critical illness
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- EV & Hybrid Car Scheme
- Tech Purchase Scheme – split the cost of Tech or Home electronics through salary deduction, interest free
- Healthcare Cash plan – claim back the cost of everyday healthcare, dental, physio, chiropractor, opticians, podiatry etc
- Private Medical Insurance with Vitality
- Reward Gateway with cashback and discounts on 900+ retailers
- Employee Assistance Programme including Virtual GP service
- Wellbeing Centre based on Mind, Move, Munch and Money
