Lead Programmer
d3t and Coconut Lizard are at the cutting edge of technology and creativity, delivering co-development video game services to our global triple-A clients. Our successful studios are continuing to grow and we are looking for a Lead Programmer to join the expanding Engineering Team. Our studios, part of the Keywords Studios Group, work on multiple exciting projects at any one time offering plenty of variety and involvement.
We have been established over 13 years and our studio projects have included Hogwart’s Legacy, Vampire: The Masquerade - Blood Hunt, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Alan Wake Remastered, Mafia II: Definitive Edition and EA Sports FC24.
Our studios are based near Daresbury, Cheshire and Gateshead, Tyne and Wear where we offer an amazingly professional, fun and supportive working environment. We are very passionate about what we do and pride ourselves on our inclusive mentality, mentoring ethos and have been awarded 'Best Places to Work’ multiple times by gamesindustry.biz including 2021, 2022 and 2023. In addition, we won ‘Best Creative Service Provider‘ at Develop 2022 and were nominated in 2023 and 2024.
Lead Programmer - The Role
A Lead Programmer in our studio 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 and directing your team to meet their goals.
· Line managing engineers to enable them to reach their full potential.
· Demonstrate good leadership skills of motivation, positivity, enthusiasm, leading by example & active listening.
· Fostering high standards of communication, collaboration and coding skills and standards from your team and those you line manage.
· Collaborating with international clients and our engineers, artists, designers, production and technical management.
· 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.
Teammates - Life at d3t
Essential Skills
· Experience: 7+ years
· Languages: Multiple including 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: Excellent
Desirable Skills
· Released games
· Porting games
· Tools development
· Rendering experience
· Build and infrastructure
· Low level console development
Benefits & Perks – some of the many offered by our studio alongside a great work environment:
· 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays + up to 5 days extra for length of service)
· Company Pension Scheme
· Flexible working hours
· Private Medical and Dental Insurance Scheme & Eye Care Scheme
· Employee Share Scheme
· Anti-crunch ethos - an amazingly professional, fun and supportive working environment!
· Income Protection & Life Assurance
· Annual Bonus – be rewarded for great teamwork!
· Free Parking
· Game Vouchers
· Tech and Bike Scheme
· Company Socials/Clubs, Monthly Studio Lunches and Annual d3t Events
· Breakout Areas – filled with perks such as games, BBQ area, complimentary snacks to suit all dietary preferences etc.
We offer a flexible working policy – the role can be hybrid, remote (UK based only) or studio based at either of our studio sites - d3t (Runcorn, Cheshire) or Coconut Lizard (Gateshead, Tyne & Wear).
Initial interviews will be help by video call with additional interviews at the studio, dependent on location.
Don't meet every single requirement? Not a problem - please apply. At d3t and Coconut Lizard 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.
Internal Use -
Role Information: EN
Studio: d3t
Location: Europe, UK, Runcorn and/or Gateshead, UK
Area of Work: Game Development
Service: Create
Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent
Working Pattern: Hybrid, Remote, In-Office
Top Skills
What We Do
Keywords Studios is an international technical and creative services provider to the global video games industry and beyond.
We bring to life digital content that entertains, connects, challenges and educates people worldwide.
Established in 1998, and now with more than 65 facilities in 22 countries strategically located in Asia, the Americas, Australia and Europe, we provide integrated art creation, marketing services, software engineering, testing, localization, audio and customer care services across more than 50 languages and 16 games platforms to a blue-chip client base of more than 950 clients across the globe.
