Lead Game Programmer
Job Summary
Job Description
Kwalee seeks a Lead Game Programmer to guide mobile game development, ensuring high-quality code and efficient workflows. Responsibilities include identifying and resolving code issues, distributing bugs effectively, implementing innovative engine features, improving UML designs, and conducting code reviews. The role demands strong leadership, excellent communication, managing time estimations, addressing personnel challenges, and leading interviews. The position is based in Leamington Spa, UK, with relocation assistance provided. This permanent role requires on-site work and collaboration with cross-functional teams to achieve successful project completion.
Must have:
- Strong game development experience
- Team leadership skills in bug tracking and estimation
- Game engine feature implementation and optimization
- UML design and technical architecture understanding
- Excellent communication and cross-department collaboration
- Experience managing personnel and addressing challenges diplomatically
- Leadership experience in interviewing and hiring
Perks:
- Comprehensive medical cover
- Dental and optical care
- Life assurance
- Solid pension plan
- 25 days holiday
- Unlimited snacks and drinks
- On-site gym
- Free parking
- Electric charging stations
- Career growth opportunities
- Seasonal events
- Regular townhalls
- Kwalee merch
- Dog-friendly policy
- Relocation assistance
- Visa sponsorship
6 skills required
Job Details
At Kwalee, we foster an environment where creativity and collaboration come together. Specialising in both the development and publishing of casual and hybrid casual games, we also bring our creative touch to publishing PC & Console titles, ensuring a diverse and exciting gaming portfolio.
By joining our talented team in Bangalore or Leamington Spa, you’ll be part of a space where ideas flow freely, innovation flourishes, and team spirit stays strong. We’ve found that when we’re all together, great things happen. With over 1 billion players already reached, your work will contribute to our shared mission of making the most fun games for the world's players.
Join the team!
As we continue to grow, we are now looking for a Lead Game Programmer to join our mobile games team.
As a Lead Game Developer, you will be responsible for guiding the development process and ensuring high-quality code standards. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, manage time estimations, and lead the implementation of innovative features. Together, you will drive the team toward successful project completion.
This is a permanent role based in our Leamington Spa studio, where our daily in-office collaboration fuels creativity and innovation. If you're not already based locally, we’ll support your move with comprehensive relocation assistance and visa sponsorship, ensuring a smooth transition.
Responsibilities:
- Identify and resolve poor code patterns within game development to ensure optimal performance and maintainability.
- Distribute bugs to the right team members based on their expertise, ensuring efficient issue resolution.
- Implement innovative features from the game engine into submodules (e.g., Addressables) for easier integration by the development teams.
- Improve UML designs across the team to ensure structured system design and architecture.
- Review core technology solutions and provide feedback on code patterns during code reviews.
- Work across departments, facilitating communication, improving processes, and ensuring smooth workflows.
- Communicate effectively about issues across departments, understanding their impact on the wider project and keeping stakeholders informed.
- Adjust time estimates based on team capacity and project needs, ensuring realistic timelines.
- Lead meetings, address challenges, and maintain team morale with diplomacy and problem-solving skills.
- Lead interviews and assess technical and cultural fit when hiring new team members.
Requirements:
- Strong experience in game development with a focus on identifying and resolving poor code practices.
- Proven ability to lead teams, particularly in bug tracking and time estimation.
- Expertise in implementing and optimising game engine features.
- Solid understanding of UML design and technical architecture.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across departments.
- Experience managing personnel situations and addressing challenges with diplomacy.
- Leadership experience, including interviewing and hiring technical staff.
- Based in our Leamington Spa office with 5 days per week on-site.
Why Kwalee?
We believe in more than just a job—we’re committed to helping you thrive with a fantastic work-life balance and a range of great benefits! You’ll enjoy comprehensive medical cover, including dental and optical care, life assurance, and a solid pension plan. Plus, you’ll have 25 days of holiday to recharge, along with unlimited snacks and drinks to keep you energised throughout the day.
Enjoy the benefits of an on-site gym, free parking, and convenient electric charging stations. We provide state-of-the-art equipment and plenty of career growth opportunities to set you up for success. And to keep things lively, we host seasonal events, regular townhalls, and share exclusive Kwalee merch. With our dog-friendly policy and a vibrant office atmosphere, there’s always something fun going on!
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
At Kwalee, we take pride in being an equal opportunity employer, where we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving creativity. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
Our culture is built on celebrating the diverse voices of our team members, fuelling innovation and strengthening our connection to our players. We are dedicated to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of life, including age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
We recognise the importance of self-development, career progression, and well-being in retaining our talented team. At Kwalee, we celebrate individuality and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.
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