Apply for this position
Go through the steps on our recruitment portal if you are interested in this position.
ApplyJob Description
Coconut Lizard and d3t 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: EA SPORTS FC™ 25, Dead Island 2, Hogwarts Legacy, Sea of Thieves, 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, and Mafia II: Definitive Edition.
Our studios are based near Runcorn, 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, 2023 and 2024. In addition, we won ‘Best Creative Service Provider‘ at Develop 2022 and were nominated as a Best Studio finalist in 2024.
The Role - Lead Programmer
A Lead Programmer at Coconut Lizard 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.
Skills we think you should have
- 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
Skills we'd like you to have
- Released games
- Porting games
- Tools development
- Rendering experience
- Build and infrastructure
- Low level console development
Teammates:
Hear from our Lead Programmer, Sarah Newell, alongside our Studio Technical Director, Andy Booth on their experiences by clicking on their names!
Further Information:
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, Gateshead
Area of Work: Game Development
Service: Create
Employment Type: Full Time, Permanent
Working Pattern: Hybrid, Remote, In-Office
Benefits
These are just some of the many benefits offered by our studios:
- 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays + up to 5 days extra for length of service)
- Company Pension Scheme
- Flexible working hours
- Private Medical Insurance Scheme (including dental) & Eye Care Scheme
- Anti-crunch ethos - an amazingly professional, fun and supportive working environment!
- Income Protection
- Annual Bonus – be rewarded for great teamwork!
- Free Parking
- Tech and Bike Scheme
- Company Share Scheme
- Game Vouchers
- Company Socials, Project Launch/Wrap Parties + Annual Events
- Breakout Areas – filled with perks such as games, BBQ area, complimentary snacks to suit all dietary preferences etc.