Senior Gameplay Engineer (Animation) - Runescape: Dragonwilds at Jagex

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Jagex Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Game DevelopmentIndustries

Requirements

  • Excellent experience in animation programming, with a passion to become the team’s subject matter expert
  • Proven background implementing complex gameplay and animation features in multiplayer games
  • Strong understanding of game design principles and a genuine passion for gaming
  • Advanced C++ knowledge, with the ability to apply principles across additional languages such as C# or Python
  • Knowledgeable in profiling and optimising code
  • Ability to design complex systems using appropriate patterns, solving architectural and system-level problems
  • Good knowledge of source code repository usage (Perforce)
  • Capacity to mentor others and contribute to the team’s continuous improvement by sharing and refining best practices
  • At ease with independence, allowing one to co-organise own strike team and allocate resources intelligently
  • Excellent communication skills and sociability, enabling efficient remote work environment
  • Experience in UE4 or UE5 C++
  • Familiarity with animation pipelines involving Maya or similar 3D tools

Responsibilities

  • Design, implement and maintain animation systems across the game—covering character movement, combat, spells, emotes, AIs, IKs, NPCs and more
  • Build tools and pipelines that support animation workflows, improving efficiency and data quality
  • Partner with animators and technical animators to define best practices, automate processes, and enable creative iteration
  • Write clear, maintainable and portable C++ code that aligns with engineering standards and gameplay requirements
  • Support gameplay engineers by writing clean interfaces they can plug into and coordinating with them on architectural design
  • Mentor junior engineers through code reviews, architecture discussions, and knowledge sharing
  • Proactively identify risks and opportunities within the animation space, proposing technical strategies and improvements
  • Occasionally contribute to core gameplay features, offering flexibility and cross-discipline collaboration
  • Support the engineering team with recruitment and hiring

Skills

C++
Unreal Engine 5
Animation Systems
Inverse Kinematics
AI
Combat Systems
Character Movement
Emotes
NPCs
Animation Pipelines
Tooling

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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