At a Glance
- Tasks: Develop and maintain cutting-edge rendering systems for AAA games.
- 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: Enjoy creative surroundings and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact on high-quality visuals in a supportive, balanced environment.
- Qualifications: Strong C++ skills and experience with real-time rendering techniques.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Who We Are
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.
The Role
As a Senior Graphics Programmer, you’ll be responsible for developing and maintaining rendering systems that help bring our games to life.
You’ll work closely with artists, technical artists, and engineers to deliver high‑quality visuals while ensuring performance targets are met across supported platforms.
You’ll take ownership of graphics features from concept through implementation, helping shape rendering architecture, solving complex technical challenges, and mentoring less experienced programmers along the way.
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and maintain rendering and graphics systems
- Collaborate closely with art and technical art teams to support visual goals
- Optimise rendering performance across CPU and GPU workloads
- Investigate and resolve rendering bugs, visual issues, and platform‑specific problems
- Contribute to graphics architecture and long‑term technical planning
- Profile and improve memory usage, frame times, and rendering efficiency
- Support junior and mid‑level engineers through mentorship and code reviews
- Help establish and maintain graphics programming best practices
- Contribute to tooling and workflows that improve visual iteration and development efficiency
- What We’re Looking For
- Technical Experience
- Strong C++ programming experience in games development
- Experience building or maintaining rendering systems in a commercial game environment
- Strong understanding of real‑time rendering techniques and modern graphics pipelines
- Experience working with shaders and GPU optimisation
- Familiarity with Direcxt X, and ideally console specific APIs
- Comfortable profiling graphics performance and diagnosing bottlenecks
- Experience working with console or PC platforms
- Familiar with Perforce or similar source control systems
- Ways of Working
- Comfortable owning complex graphics features from planning through delivery
- Strong communicator who can work effectively with both artists and engineers
- Proactive in identifying risks, trade‑offs, and technical solutions
- Passionate about visual quality, performance, and maintainable code
- Bonus Points
- Experience shipping titles on Xbox, Play Station, or Switch
- Knowledge of physically based rendering (PBR), post‑processing, or lighting systems
- Experience with ray tracing technologies
- Familiarity with engine architecture and low‑level engine systems
- Experience building graphics debugging or profiling tools
- 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
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Graphics Programmer Code · Wakefield, UK employer: Cast Iron Games
At Cast Iron Games, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel in their roles. As a Senior Programmer, you will not only contribute to the development of cutting-edge games but also have access to mentorship opportunities and a supportive environment that values work-life balance, allowing you to thrive without the pressures of crunch culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Graphics Programmer Code · Wakefield, UK
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a graphic designer, your portfolio is your secret weapon! Make sure it's not just a collection of your work but showcases your creative process too. Use platforms like Behance or Dribbble to share your designs and gain visibility within the design community.
✨Get Involved in Design Meetups
Networking is key in the design world! Check out local design meetups or workshops where you can connect with other creatives and potential employers. This is a goldmine for finding unadvertised job openings at companies like Cast Iron Games.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Cast Iron Games, don’t go for a one-size-fits-all approach. Ensure your application highlights specific projects or styles that align with their brand image, showing that you’re a perfect fit for their team.
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in landing your dream design job! Share your work on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest, and engage with accounts from your desired companies—this could put you on their radar before they start hiring.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Graphics Programmer Code · Wakefield, UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work Cast Iron Games does, so they can see you in action.
Tailor Your CV for Design:When crafting your CV, highlight your design skills and software proficiencies, like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. Mention any relevant experience you have with branding, UI/UX design, or typography, as we want to see how you fit in with the creative team at Cast Iron Games.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Cast Iron Games. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!
Highlight Collaboration Skills:As a graphic designer, you often work with various teams and stakeholders. In your application, mention experiences where you've collaborated with others to bring a project to life, whether it's with clients, writers, or developers. This shows you can thrive in a team environment, which is key at Cast Iron Games.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cast Iron Games
✨Get Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.
✨Know Your Design Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.
✨Passion Counts
For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to Cast Iron Games. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
