Lead Rendering Programmer in Slough

This job is with Warner Bros. Discovery, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of. Who We Are… When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next… From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Rocksteady Studios is an award-winning, critically acclaimed video game developer. Founded in 2004, we are home to the widely celebrated Batman: Arkham series of games. Our philosophy for game development is all about treating people well to create quality entertainment that stands the test of time. We’re a one-project studio that built our success by combining genre-defining gameplay and character-driven cinematic narrative with AAA production values. Born in the heart of London, our multicultural team takes inspiration from the culture and history of our home in one of the most diverse cities in the world.

Rocksteady is looking for an exceptionally talented Lead Rendering Programmer to join our team working on our upcoming unannounced AAA title. This role will involve leading a team of expert rendering programmers to extend and optimise our engine and achieve the artistic vision set by Art Director, while ensuring the content creation pipelines are efficient and game performance is consistently high.

You will report to the Engine Code Director and collaborate with other code and art leads to ensure the solutions we build are effective, identify and resolve bottlenecks that other teams have. Working and managing the team every day, the Lead Rendering Programmer will enforce and inform the Engine Code Director’s vision for the project, hold reviews and provide feedback to the team, lead-by-example, and push the boundaries of rendering for video games.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Engine Code Director, Art Director and other leads to understand and establish their vision and communicate this to the team.
• Support the rendering programmers on your team, through regular one-on-ones, development conversations and performance reviews.
• Be a role-model for your team by emphasizing project and company goals, providing feedback on performance and mentoring.
• Manage the rendering code schedule and bugs to minimise risk and ensure smooth running of the department.
• Oversee, advise and drive the whole rendering team to ensure quality results and efficient working practices.
• Keep up to date with industry trends in rendering to ensure our rendering tech is competitive.
• Work with artists to interpret their creative direction and build rendering code to achieve it.
• Work closely with the Engine Code Director to plan and implement new rendering features.
• Implement rendering features to a high quality.

Technical Requirements

• Excellent 3D maths skills.
• Proficient graphics background with knowledge of cutting-edge rendering techniques.
• Advanced understanding of current graphics hardware, APIs and shader programming languages.
• Strong understanding in C/C++.
• Excellent profiling & optimisation skills, understanding of hardware bottlenecks and ways to overcome them.
• Experience working with latest generation of consoles (PS5 / Xbox Series X/S).

Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.

Championing Inclusion at WBD Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.