Jagex

Lead Designer - Runescape: Dragonwilds

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Not SpecifiedCompensation
Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Video Games, GamingIndustries

Location

  • Location Type: Remote
  • Location: Cambridge, UK – (Remote available within the UK with team onsite days in the Cambridge office approx. 4 times per year)

Employment Type

  • Employment Type: Full

Job Description

Are you an experienced hands-on creative game design leader with excellent experience working at the intersection of systems, survival gameplay, and player-driven experiences?

As a Lead Designer on RuneScape: Dragonwilds - our new open-world survival crafting game set in the RuneScape universe - you’ll define and drive the design vision, growing and leading a multidisciplinary team through the creation of compelling multiplayer survival, sandbox, and progression systems that combine the rich heritage of RuneScape with innovative, emergent gameplay. In this key, high impact role in the team you'll work across multiple disciplines and departments to ensure creative alignment, executional excellence, and a high-performance and collaborative culture that empowers both your team and the broader studio.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Define and champion the creative vision for an expansive, systemic experience grounded in RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
  • Lead the design of compelling systems that combine multiplayer survival, sandbox progression, and persistent evergreen loops with familiar RuneScape DNA.
  • Translate high-level direction into concrete design goals and gameplay pillars that support scalability, player agency, and long-term engagement.
  • Establish quality benchmarks through rapid prototyping, iteration, and data-informed decision making.
  • Manage, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary team of designers across systems, combat, UX, and content.
  • Foster a high-performance culture that emphasises creativity, ownership, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Conduct regular feedback sessions, career development planning, and performance evaluations to elevate individual and team capability.
  • Serve as a central design voice working alongside production, creative, engineering, art, and publishing teams.
  • Work with the Creative Director to ensure design direction aligns with long-term product and player goals.
  • Collaborate with product, analytics and research to validate design hypotheses and refine player experience over time.
  • Be Accountable for the full lifecycle of gameplay features, from concept and documentation through implementation and polish.
  • Push for innovation while maintaining feasibility and clarity of scope, ensuring delivery of high-quality, on-vision work.
  • Hands-on engagement with tools and pipelines in Unreal Engine 5, guiding design implementation and fostering technical excellence.

What we’re looking for:

  • Proven track record as a Lead Designer or similar role on multiplayer, MMO, survival, or combat-centric titles.
  • Demonstrable experience designing for large-scale player systems, progression mechanics, and emergent gameplay.
  • High proficiency in Unreal Engine 5, including scripting, prototyping, and collaborative cross-discipline workflows.
  • Strong grasp of combat design, especially real-time or melee-based mechanics.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-discipline alignment skills.

What we offer:

When you join Jagex you can look forward to a generous Perks & Benefits package including:

  • Private Healthcare, including Dental Plan.
  • Minimum 6% Pension contributions.
  • Employee Assistance Programme & onsite Counselling.
  • Life Insurance.
  • Discretionary annual performance bonus.
  • 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!

About Jagex:

Jagex is a leader in developing and publishing deep, engaging online games that connect millions of players worldwide. Best known for the RuneScape franchise, which includes two of the world’s longest running and most successful MMORPGs, in Old School Runescape and Runescape, and the open-world survival crafting game, Runescape: Dragonwilds; we have proven success in delivering immersive For

Skills

Game Design
Systems Design
Survival Gameplay
Player-Driven Experiences
Creative Vision
Multiplayer
Sandbox
Progression Systems
Prototyping
Mentoring
Team Leadership
UX Design
Content Design
Combat Design

Jagex

Develops and maintains online multiplayer games

About Jagex

Jagex develops and maintains online games that continuously evolve with new content and updates, known as "living games." Their most famous title is RuneScape, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that attracts a diverse player base, from casual gamers to dedicated enthusiasts. Players can access basic features for free or choose a premium membership for additional content and benefits. Jagex also offers in-game purchases for virtual items and enhancements. What sets Jagex apart from competitors is its strong focus on community engagement and player feedback, which helps improve their games and foster loyalty among players. The company's goal is to create immersive gaming experiences while also supporting mental health initiatives for young people through charitable partnerships.

Cambridge, United KingdomHeadquarters
2001Year Founded
BUYOUTCompany Stage
Social Impact, GamingIndustries
501-1,000Employees

Risks

New survival game development may divert resources from existing projects.
Macarthur Fortune Holding acquisition could lead to strategic shifts alienating players.
Focus on non-Runescape projects might impact RuneScape's quality and support.

Differentiation

Jagex specializes in 'living games' that evolve with continuous updates.
RuneScape, Jagex's flagship game, has a large and dedicated player base.
Jagex emphasizes community engagement and player feedback for game improvements.

Upsides

Increased interest in survival games benefits Jagex's new RuneScape universe game.
Unreal Engine 5 use aligns with trends for high-fidelity graphics and player retention.
Macarthur Fortune Holding acquisition provides resources for expansion and innovation.

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