At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic engineering team on exciting AAA game projects.
- Company: Join d3t, a top-rated studio in the gaming industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, private medical insurance, and a fun work environment.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a focus on work/life balance and no-crunch policy.
- Why this job: Make an impact in game development while working with global clients.
- Qualifications: 7+ years of programming experience, especially in C++ and leadership.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
d3t is at the forefront of videogame technology and creativity, delivering experienced co-development services to some of the biggest AAA clients in the world. Our studio, part of the global Keywords Studios Group, works on multiple exciting projects at any one time, offering plenty of variety and involvement.
Our studio projects have included EA SPORTS FC™ 26, Hogwarts Legacy, Exoborne, Mafia: The Old Country, Alan Wake Remastered, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Vampire The Masquerade - Blood Hunt, Mafia II: Definitive Edition, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. We also work in partnership with our global clients including: Playground Games, EA and Archetype Entertainment.
The d3t studios are based near Daresbury (Cheshire), Newcastle (Tyne & Wear) and Madrid where we offer an amazingly professional and supportive working environment. We are passionate about what we do and pride ourselves on our anti-crunch mentality, mentoring ethos and have been awarded ‘Best Places to Work’ multiple times by gamesindustry.biz. In addition, we won ‘Best Creative Service Provider’ at Develop 2022 and were nominated in 2023 & 2024.
THE ROLE - LEAD PROGRAMMER
The Programming Team is expanding and this exciting opportunity for a Lead Programmer will be a 12-month fixed term contract, based in either of our UK studio sites (Daresbury or Newcastle), on a hybrid working basis. The working pattern is 3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice.
A Lead Programmer at d3t plays a key role in the engineering department, being the programming lead and point of contact both internally and externally with our clients on each of our outsourcing development projects. They help to foster high coding standards, processes and career development within our engineering team, as well as being hands-on in the development and planning of the work we deliver on AAA titles with our high-profile, global clients.
Responsibilities
- Leading your engineering team to meet their goals, with motivation, positivity, enthusiasm, leading by example & active listening.
- Line managing engineers to foster career progression and enable them to reach their full potential.
- Setting high standards of communication, collaboration and coding skills and standards from your team and your direct reports.
- Collaborating with international clients often as our main engineering point of contact for projects.
- Being part of mixed discipline teams working together to deliver features on time.
- Technical planning and delegating.
- Variety of projects and programming specialisms available in gameplay, core tech, porting, low level architecture on multiple platforms.
- Stay up to date with industry trends and best practices.
Requirements
Essential Skills + Experience
- Experience: 7+ years
- Languages: C++ expertise
- Leadership: Has led and managed engineers
- Dependability: Can work autonomously, flexibly, proactively and positively
- Knowledge: Low level systems (e.g. physics, networking, memory, animation etc.)
- Technology: Experienced with game engines, IDEs, source control, build infrastructure
- Growth: Continually expands knowledge base and skill set
- Communication: Able to clearly discuss road maps, updates, risks and solutions with multiple disciplines including non-technical developers and clients.
Desirable Skills + Experience
- Multiple programming languages and engines
- Released games
- Porting games
- Tools development
- Rendering experience
- Build and infrastructure
- Low level console development
At d3t we work flexibly, but value in-person collaboration: this position is offered on a hybrid basis only at either of our UK sites (3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice). We value work/life balance and have a discretionary flexible hours system and operate a no-crunch policy as a studio.
Benefits
- 22 days holiday + 3 Festive Studio Closure + Bank Holidays
- Company Pension Scheme (enhanced contribution)
- Flexible Working Hours
- Private Medical Insurance Scheme - BUPA
- Anti-crunch ethos - a professional, fun and supportive working environment!
- Free Parking
- Company Socials, Monthly Lunches + Annual d3t Events
- Breakout Areas - filled with perks such as games, BBQ area, complimentary snacks to suit all dietary preferences etc.
Interviews will be held by video call. Don't meet every single requirement? Not a problem - please apply. At d3t we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace and culture. If this opportunity excites you but your current skills or past experience don't align perfectly with the job description, we encourage you to still apply. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles within our team.
Lead Programmer d3t - 12 Month Contract in Daresbury employer: Keywords Studios
At Keywords, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that thrives on creativity and collaboration within the gaming industry. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous learning opportunities and a supportive environment that encourages innovation. With our UK-based studios at the forefront of game development, you will be part of a passionate team dedicated to delivering excellence while enjoying the flexibility of remote work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Programmer d3t - 12 Month Contract in Daresbury
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Keywords Studios or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
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✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Keywords Studios.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
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We think you need these skills to ace Lead Programmer d3t - 12 Month Contract in Daresbury
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 Keywords Studios.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Keywords Studios 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 Keywords Studios
✨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 Keywords Studios 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.
