Senior UI Engineer - RuneScape Dragonwilds

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI Engineer - RuneScape Dragonwilds

Company: Jagex Limited

Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: UI Engineering (Game Development)

Date Posted: 2025-06-11

Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote available within the UK with team onsite days in the Cambridge office approx. 4 times per year)

🎨 Role Summary

• Define, design, and implement intuitive and performant user interface systems for the new open-world survival crafting game, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, developed in Unreal Engine 5.
• Serve as the primary technical expert for all UI-related aspects, owning the design and execution of complex UI features from concept to completion.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including designers, artists, and other engineers to deliver a seamless and high-quality player experience.
• Champion best practices in UI engineering within the team, focusing on code quality, performance optimization, and scalability in a game development context.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, and own a wide variety of UI features within Unreal Engine 5, ensuring they meet performance targets, are scalable for future growth, and are deeply user-focused for the RuneScape: Dragonwilds player base.
• Partner effectively with UI/UX designers and technical artists in dedicated "strike teams" to translate design concepts and artistic vision into cohesive, polished, and functional in-game interfaces.
• Select and advocate for the most appropriate technical solutions, architectural patterns, and development pipelines specifically for UI implementation within the Unreal Engine environment, considering performance and maintainability.
• Rigorously test, debug, profile, and optimize UI systems and individual UI elements to identify and resolve bottlenecks and ensure a smooth, responsive, and high-quality user experience across various game states and platforms.
• Proactively identify potential technical risks and innovative opportunities throughout the UI development lifecycle, proposing and implementing effective solutions or enhancements before issues arise.
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers within the team on UI engineering best practices, Unreal Engine UI frameworks (UMG, Slate, Common UI), and game development workflows, contributing to team growth and knowledge sharing.
• Actively participate in the recruitment process for engineering roles, evaluating candidates' technical skills and cultural fit, particularly in areas relevant to UI and game development.
• Champion and contribute to the continuous improvement of UI engineering standards, documentation, and development processes within the Jagex engineering team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Game Development, or a related technical field is typically preferred for a Senior Engineering role in the gaming industry. Equivalent professional experience with a strong portfolio of UI engineering work in games is also highly valued.

Experience: Proven expertise, typically 5+ years, in designing and implementing complex UI features specifically for multiplayer games. Demonstrable experience with shipped titles or significant contributions to large-scale game projects is expected. A strong portfolio or examples of previous UI engineering work, including technical approaches and performance considerations, is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in designing, implementing, and maintaining complex UI systems specifically for multiplayer games, understanding the unique challenges of networked interfaces.
• Strong understanding of core User Experience (UX) principles and how they translate into functional and intuitive in-game interfaces, with the ability to advocate for player-centric design.
• Deep proficiency in C++ programming, with practical experience applying this knowledge to game development and performance-critical systems, particularly within a game engine context.
• Demonstrable hands-on experience with Unreal Engine (UE4 or UE5), including expertise with its UI frameworks such as UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics), Slate, and Common UI, for creating interactive interfaces.
• Skilled at profiling and optimizing code and UI systems to ensure high performance, low memory usage, and smooth frame rates essential for a responsive gaming experience.
• Ability to design and implement complex systems using appropriate software design patterns, effectively solving architectural and system-level problems related to UI scalability and maintainability.
• Familiarity and practical experience with standard game development source code repository usage, specifically Perforce, for version control and collaborative development.
• Experience mentoring other engineers, providing technical guidance, code review feedback, and fostering a culture of learning and knowledge sharing within an engineering team.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical team members, thriving in collaborative and potentially distributed environments.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other programming languages commonly used in game development, such as C#, Python, or scripting languages, for tools or supplementary systems.
• Prior experience working on open-world or survival crafting games, understanding the specific UI challenges and requirements of these genres.
• Experience with UI/UX design tools and workflows (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD) to better understand and collaborate with design counterparts.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices for game interfaces to ensure a wider player base can comfortably engage with the game.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Include examples of implemented UI features in games, showcasing not just the visual result but also the technical implementation, code structure, and performance considerations.
• Present case studies detailing the development process for complex UI systems, including problem definition, technical design choices, implementation challenges, and optimization efforts.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in Unreal Engine UI frameworks (UMG, Slate, Common UI) through code samples, technical breakdowns, or video demonstrations of implemented UI elements.
• Showcase examples of collaboration with design and art teams, illustrating how technical implementation supported and enhanced the intended user experience and visual style.

Process Documentation:

• Document the technical decisions made during UI development, explaining the rationale behind architectural choices, data structures, and implementation patterns.
• Detail the process of profiling and optimizing UI performance, including the tools used, the metrics targeted, and the improvements achieved.
• Explain how technical challenges in implementing specific UI features were identified and overcome, showcasing problem-solving skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry data for Senior Software Engineers in Cambridge, UK, with specific experience in game development and Unreal Engine UI, the estimated salary range for this role is likely between £55,000 and £75,000 per year. This estimate considers the seniority level, specialized skills required (Unreal Engine, C++, UI), the cost of living in the Cambridge area, and typical compensation structures within the UK game development industry. Exact compensation will depend on experience, specific qualifications, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Private Healthcare coverage, including a Dental Plan, providing access to private medical services.
• Minimum 6% Pension contributions from the company, supporting long-term financial planning for retirement.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and onsite Counselling services available for confidential support and well-being.
• Life Insurance coverage, providing financial security for dependents.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus based on individual and company performance.
• Enhanced family leave policies, including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave, effective from day one of employment.
• Flexible working hours to support work-life balance and accommodate individual needs within team requirements.
• 25 days of annual leave per year, in addition to UK Bank Holidays, with the option to buy or sell additional holiday days.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week. The role offers flexible working hours, allowing for some degree of autonomy in structuring the workday, while ensuring core team collaboration times are met, especially in a hybrid setup. Overtime may be required during critical development phases, common in game development.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Computer Games - Jagex is a leader in developing and publishing deep, engaging online games, primarily known for the RuneScape franchise. This context means a fast-paced, creative environment focused on player experience and long-term game support ("forever games").

Company Size: Over 400 people globally. This size suggests established processes and teams, but likely still allows for individual impact and visibility, especially within a specific game team like RuneScape: Dragonwilds.

Founded: 2001. With over two decades of history, Jagex has a strong foundation in online game development and community building.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the RuneScape: Dragonwilds team, specifically focused on UI Engineering.
• Works in "strike teams" with designers and artists, indicating a cross-functional, project-based approach to feature development.
• Likely reports to an Engineering Lead or Technical Director within the RuneScape: Dragonwilds team.

Methodology:

• Emphasizes collaboration across disciplines (engineering, design, art).
• Likely follows an agile development methodology, given the "strike team" structure and focus on iterative feature delivery.
• Strong focus on player-first game design and community feedback, influencing development priorities.
• Data-driven insights are used in live game development, suggesting a focus on metrics and player behavior analysis for UI optimization.

Company Website: https://www.jagex.com/en-GB/careers

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Senior-level engineering role focused on UI within a specific game project. Senior engineers are expected to take ownership of complex systems, mentor others, and contribute significantly to technical design and best practices. The focus is on deep technical expertise in UI implementation within Unreal Engine.

Reporting Structure: The role likely reports to an Engineering Lead or Manager within the RuneScape: Dragonwilds development team. There may be opportunities to mentor junior engineers.

Design Impact: The Senior UI Engineer has a direct and significant impact on the player experience by crafting the interface through which players interact with the game world. High-quality UI is crucial for accessibility, usability, and overall player satisfaction in a complex survival crafting game.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for technical leadership within the UI engineering domain, becoming a go-to expert and potentially leading a small UI engineering sub-team.
• Opportunities to deepen expertise in Unreal Engine UI frameworks and performance optimization for large-scale multiplayer games.
• Growth into broader engineering leadership roles within the RuneScape: Dragonwilds team or other projects at Jagex.
• Development of mentoring and leadership skills by guiding less experienced engineers.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid. The primary location is the Cambridge office, but the role offers remote work within the UK with required onsite attendance in Cambridge approximately four times per year for team days.

Office Location(s): Cambridge, UK (Cambridge Science Park address is listed for headquarters).

Design Workspace Context:

• The Cambridge office provides a physical space for collaboration and team interaction during required onsite days.
• The hybrid model supports flexibility for remote work while maintaining opportunities for face-to-face collaboration crucial for creative and technical problem-solving in game development.
• Requires the ability to work effectively in both a focused remote environment and a collaborative office setting.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are offered, allowing employees some control over their daily schedule. However, collaboration with team members across different disciplines and potentially time zones (though primarily UK-based) will necessitate some overlap for meetings and synchronous work. The hybrid nature requires planning for periodic travel to the Cambridge office.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening likely involves a review of the resume and portfolio/work samples to assess relevant experience in UI engineering for games and Unreal Engine proficiency.
• Technical interview rounds will assess C++ skills, data structures, algorithms, and problem-solving abilities, potentially including whiteboard or coding exercises relevant to UI systems.
• Specific interviews on Unreal Engine UI frameworks (UMG, Slate, Common UI) and practical application of UI engineering principles in a game context. Be prepared to discuss performance optimization techniques and architectural choices.
• Behavioral or cultural fit interviews to assess collaboration skills, ability to work in cross-functional teams (design, art), communication style, and alignment with Jagex's values.
• A portfolio review or presentation where you walk through examples of your UI engineering work, explaining your technical approach, challenges faced, and collaborative process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Organize your portfolio around case studies of specific UI features or systems you implemented.
• For each case study, explain the design goal, the technical challenge, your chosen solution, the implementation process (including code structure and Unreal Engine specifics), and the outcome.
• Include technical diagrams, code snippets (if appropriate and non-confidential), and videos or screenshots demonstrating the functionality and performance of the UI.
• Highlight your contribution within team projects and describe how you collaborated with designers and artists to achieve the final result.
• Be prepared to discuss performance considerations and optimization techniques you applied to the UI.

Challenge Preparation:

• A technical challenge might involve implementing a specific UI element or system in Unreal Engine, optimizing existing UI code, or solving a UI-related programming problem.
• Practice implementing common UI patterns in UMG or Slate, focusing on efficiency and maintainability.
• Review C++ fundamentals and practice problem-solving related to data structures and algorithms relevant to UI data management.
• Be prepared to explain your thought process, design choices, and trade-offs during the challenge.

ATS Keywords:

• Design Skills: UI Engineering, User Interface, User Experience, UX Principles, Player Experience, Interface Design, Prototyping, Usability, Accessibility
• Tools: Unreal Engine 5, UE5, Unreal Engine 4, UE4, UMG, Unreal Motion Graphics, Slate, Common UI, C++, Perforce, Version Control, Debugging Tools, Profiling Tools
• Methodologies: Agile Development, Cross-functional Collaboration, Game Development Pipeline, Performance Optimization, Architectural Design, System Design, Mentoring, Code Review
• Soft Skills: Collaboration, Communication, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Mentoring, Adaptability, Proactivity, Ownership
• Industry Terms: Game Development, Multiplayer Games, Live Operations, Forever Games, MMORPG, Survival Crafting, Strike Teams, Player-First Design

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Unreal Engine 5 (UE5): The core game engine where UI implementation will take place, specifically utilizing its built-in UI frameworks. Proficiency is essential.
• UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics): The primary visual UI editor and framework within Unreal Engine. Expect to work extensively with UMG widgets, blueprints, and animations.
• Slate: Unreal Engine's underlying immediate mode UI framework. While UMG is more common for general UI, understanding Slate can be important for custom or performance-critical elements.
• Common UI: A plugin for Unreal Engine designed to simplify UI development across multiple platforms and input methods, likely used to ensure consistency and controller support.
• C++: The primary programming language used within Unreal Engine for implementing complex UI logic, data handling, and performance-critical features.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Perforce: The specified source code version control system used for managing code and assets collaboratively within the development team.
• Collaboration tools (likely including something like Slack, Discord, or Microsoft Teams): Used for team communication, discussions, and sharing updates, especially in a hybrid work environment.
• Potentially project management tools (e.g., Jira, Trello): Used for tracking tasks, bugs, and features within the development pipeline.

Research & Testing:

• Debugging and Profiling Tools (built into Unreal Engine or external): Essential for identifying and resolving technical issues and performance bottlenecks in UI systems.
• Potentially internal or external tools for gathering player feedback or analyzing UI usage data in the live game environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Player-First Design: A core value at Jagex, emphasizing the importance of understanding and meeting player needs in all development decisions, including UI design and implementation.
• Quality and Performance: A strong focus on delivering high-quality, performant UI experiences that are seamless and responsive for players.
• Innovation: Encouragement of innovative approaches to UI design and implementation, particularly within the context of a new game like Dragonwilds.
• Collaboration: A value placed on working effectively across disciplines (engineering, design, art) to create cohesive and polished features.

Collaboration Style:

• Works in cross-functional "strike teams" with designers and artists, suggesting close, iterative collaboration on specific features.
• Emphasis on communication, especially in a hybrid work environment, to ensure alignment and shared understanding.
• Likely a culture of technical feedback and code review within the engineering team to maintain code quality and share knowledge.
• Values open communication and sharing within the team ("We Embrace Fellowship").

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Implementing complex and performant UI systems for a large-scale open-world multiplayer survival crafting game in Unreal Engine 5.
• Ensuring UI scalability and maintainability as the game evolves through early access and beyond.
• Optimizing UI performance to maintain smooth frame rates across various hardware configurations.
• Collaborating effectively with diverse teams (design, art, other engineering disciplines) to translate creative vision into technical reality.
• Adapting to and leveraging new features and updates within Unreal Engine 5's UI frameworks.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in Unreal Engine 5, specifically its UI systems and performance optimization techniques.
• Gain significant experience working on a live, evolving game within a well-established franchise.
• Develop leadership and mentoring skills by guiding other engineers.
• Exposure to the full game development lifecycle, from early access through live operations.
• Opportunities to contribute to the technical direction and best practices for UI engineering at Jagex.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to discuss your technical approach to implementing complex UI features in Unreal Engine using UMG and C++. Provide examples from your portfolio.
• Describe your process for profiling and optimizing UI performance in a game. What tools and techniques do you use?
• Explain how you approach collaborating with UI/UX designers and technical artists to translate their vision into functional UI.
• Discuss a challenging UI implementation problem you faced and how you solved it, focusing on your technical reasoning and problem-solving steps.
• How do you ensure UI scalability and maintainability in a long-term project?

Company Culture Questions:

• Research Jagex's values and be prepared to discuss how your own values and work style align with them, particularly "We Embrace Fellowship" and "We are our Customers’ Heroes."
• Ask questions about the team structure within RuneScape: Dragonwilds and how cross-functional teams collaborate.
• Inquire about the design review and feedback process for UI within the team.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus your presentation on the technical implementation aspects of your UI work. Use videos or interactive demos where possible.
• For each project, clearly articulate the technical challenges you addressed and the solutions you implemented.
• Explain your code structure, use of Unreal Engine features (UMG, Slate, Blueprints, C++), and any custom tools or systems you developed.
• Highlight examples of performance optimizations you implemented and the impact they had.
• Discuss how you collaborated with other disciplines and how your technical work supported the overall user experience and visual design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Customize your resume to highlight relevant experience in UI Engineering for games, specifically mentioning Unreal Engine, C++, UMG, Slate, Common UI, and multiplayer game development.
• Prepare a portfolio or work samples that technically demonstrate your expertise in implementing complex and performant UI systems in Unreal Engine. Focus on technical process, code quality, and performance optimization.
• Practice discussing your technical projects, problem-solving approaches, and collaboration experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
• Research Jagex and the RuneScape: Dragonwilds project to understand the game's genre, target audience, and technical requirements, and prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.