Senior Gameplay Engineer - RuneScape: Dragonwilds in Cambridge

Senior Gameplay Engineer - RuneScape: Dragonwilds in Cambridge

Cambridge Full-Time 63000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Create engaging multiplayer gameplay in Unreal Engine 5 and collaborate with designers.
  • Company: Join Jagex, the creators of RuneScape, in a dynamic and inclusive environment.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, private healthcare, and generous annual leave.
  • Other info: Be part of a passionate team shaping the future of online gaming.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on beloved games while working with cutting-edge technology.
  • Qualifications: Experience in Unreal Engine 5, C++, and multiplayer networking is essential.

The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.

  • Description
  • This position offers flexible working options, including predominantly remote work. Applicants are preferably be based (or willing to relocate) within a comfortable commuting distance of our office to attend onsite as required.

Want to build multiplayer gameplay that feels responsive, scalable and genuinely fun to play?

As a Senior Gameplay Engineer on Rune

Scape: Dragonwilds, you will work hand in hand with designers to bring features to life in Unreal Engine 5, turning ideas and prototypes into polished, shippable gameplay.

You will implement, iterate and balance player-facing systems day to day, making sure they feel great to play and stay robust in a large multiplayer environment.

What you'll be doing

  • Own and implement gameplay features in UE5 C++ and Blueprint, using GAS for abilities, attributes, effects, cues and tags, taking an area from prototype to shipped so there is one person accountable for how it plays.
  • Design and maintain reusable gameplay frameworks and components aligned with GAS-first patterns, giving designers room to iterate quickly without a programmer in the loop for every change.
  • Build networked gameplay that replicates correctly and feels responsive, working with prediction, authority, RPCs and relevancy, because the networking model decides whether gameplay feels good or feels broken.
  • Collaborate with designers to iterate on combat, abilities and systems, protecting technical integrity while still landing the version that plays best.
  • Debug gameplay issues across client and server, from desyncs and edge cases to live repros, keeping the game stable while the team ships at pace.
  • Profile and optimise gameplay code against performance and bandwidth targets so systems hold up as the game and its player counts scale.

What we're looking for

  • Strong Unreal Engine (UE5) gameplay programming experience in C++, with Blueprint familiarity for collaboration and iteration.
  • Strong multiplayer networking knowledge in Unreal: replication, RPCs, the authority model, relevancy and dormancy, prediction concepts, and client and server debugging.
  • Proven ability to work directly with designers to iterate quickly while keeping implementations scalable and maintainable.
  • Experience building and maintaining gameplay systems such as player abilities, combat, progression, items and UI-facing gameplay hooks, with practical Gameplay Ability System experience and a background shipping and supporting live multiplayer games a strong advantage.
  • Solid debugging and performance awareness, including profiling gameplay code and diagnosing desyncs and edge cases.
  • Strong code quality habits across testing, code reviews, documentation and refactoring, and demonstrable experience delivering at scale on sizeable teams.

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!
  • Inclusion & Accessibility Statement

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.

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 Rune Scape 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, Rune Scape, 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 Rune Scape 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 Rune

Scape: Dragon Wilds into Steam Early Access in 2025, representing a major step in building a multi-genre future for the Rune Scape universe.

We remain focused on building enduring worlds, empowering player-led innovation, and laying the foundations for the boldest era in Rune Scape’s history.

For more information, visit https://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 Rune Scape and the next chapter of Jagex: The Rune Scape Company starts now.

Senior Gameplay Engineer - RuneScape: Dragonwilds in Cambridge employer: Jagex Limited

At Jagex, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions creativity and collaboration. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while fostering strong team connections, and our comprehensive benefits package, including private healthcare and generous leave policies, ensures our employees feel valued and supported. With a commitment to professional growth and a focus on innovation within the gaming industry, joining our team means being part of a forward-thinking company dedicated to shaping the future of online worlds.

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Contact Details:

Jagex Limited Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Gameplay Engineer - RuneScape: Dragonwilds in Cambridge

✨Join Local Tech Meetups

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✨Contribute to Open Source Projects

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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Gameplay Engineer - RuneScape: Dragonwilds in Cambridge

Unreal Engine 5 (UE5)
C++ Programming
Blueprint Scripting
Gameplay Ability System (GAS)
Multiplayer Networking
Replication
Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs)

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Jagex Limited.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Jagex Limited and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at Jagex Limited

✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Jagex Limited uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

✨Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.