At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and build systems for AI-driven digital actors in interactive media.
- Company: Join a pioneering team at Iconic, shaping the future of gaming.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for creative collaboration.
- Other info: Dynamic startup environment with room for personal growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Be part of a revolutionary shift in gaming with real-time interactive experiences.
- Qualifications: Strong software engineering skills and a passion for games and AI.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About Iconic: We're building digital actors: AI-driven characters that don't just talk, but act; shaping the world, responding to the player, and driving stories that evolve through both words and actions.
The Mission: We believe games and interactive media are on the verge of a fundamental shift. Today's experiences are largely scripted, characters follow predefined paths, and player choice is limited. We're building systems that change that: digital actors that can think, communicate, and take action in real time. Our goal is to create worlds that are truly alive—where stories emerge from interaction, and every player experience is unique. Recent advances in AI make this possible for the first time. The challenge now is turning that potential into real, scalable systems that people can play.
The Role: We're looking for a Software Engineer to help build the systems powering our digital actors and interactive worlds. This is a highly hands-on role working across gameplay systems, AI infrastructure, tools, runtime systems, and product features. You'll collaborate closely with engineers, researchers, designers, and artists to help turn emerging AI capabilities into real player experiences. This is not just an implementation role. You'll be contributing to the foundations of a new kind of interactive medium helping shape how intelligent characters behave, respond, and interact with players in real time. A background in games is not required, but a strong interest in games, simulation, and interactive systems is essential.
What You'll Do:
- Design, build, and maintain production systems across multiple areas of the stack
- Contribute directly to gameplay systems, AI integrations, runtime infrastructure, and developer tooling
- Collaborate with researchers to help bring experimental systems into real products
- Work closely with product and design to build compelling interactive experiences
- Write clean, maintainable, and performant production code
- Help improve engineering practices, tooling, and workflows as the team grows
- Contribute ideas and experimentation around how AI can create new forms of gameplay and interaction
What We're Looking For:
- Strong software engineering fundamentals
- Experience building and shipping production software
- Comfortable working across different languages, tools, and systems
- Strong problem-solving ability and willingness to learn new technologies quickly
- Interest in AI systems and how they can be applied to games and interactive experiences
- Interest in games, simulation, or emergent systems
- Collaborative mindset and comfort working in cross-functional teams
- Strong understanding of engineering quality and maintainability
Nice to Have:
- Experience with game engines (Unity, Unreal, or similar)
- Experience working on gameplay systems or real-time applications
- Familiarity with AI/ML systems, APIs, or tooling
- Experience in startups or small, fast-moving teams
- Personal projects, mods, prototypes, or game jams
Software Engineer in London employer: Kindredventures
At Iconic, we pride ourselves on being an innovative employer that fosters a collaborative and creative work environment. Our team is passionate about pushing the boundaries of interactive media, offering employees the chance to work on groundbreaking AI-driven projects that redefine gaming experiences. With a strong emphasis on personal growth and development, we provide ample opportunities for our engineers to learn, experiment, and contribute to the future of digital storytelling in a vibrant and dynamic location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer in London
✨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 Kindredventures 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
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Kindredventures.
✨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 Kindredventures.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Kindredventures that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer in London
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 Kindredventures.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Kindredventures 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 Kindredventures
✨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 Kindredventures 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.
