Lead Software Engineer Games

Methodfi; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading game development studio is seeking an experienced Lead Engineer in Cardiff to provide technical leadership and manage a team of engineers. The role requires proficiency in C++ and modern game engines, along with strong problem-solving abilities. The ideal candidate will balance hands-on development with mentoring and oversight, contributing to project success in a hybrid work environment. This position offers a competitive salary and a supportive creative culture, aiming to foster inclusiveness within the team.

Benefits

Private Medical Coverage

Annual Leave and Winter Break

Professional Development Opportunities

Flexible Working Environment

Weekly Team Lunches

Office Snacks and Games

Qualifications

• Extensive experience developing games using modern engines.
• Commitment to clean, maintainable, efficient code.
• Experience leading engineers or technical initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction and oversight for engineering teams.
• Design, implement, and review complex systems and features.
• Lead investigation and resolution of complex challenges.

Skills

C++

Technical Leadership

Problem Solving

Team Collaboration

Tools

Game Engines

Debugging Tools

Job description

Overview

Hybrid position based in Cardiff, requiring 3 days onsite each week with the option for remote work on the remaining days.

Part of the Rocket Science Group, Atomic Theory comprises a multinational team of seasoned AAA veterans with roots in Blizzard, PUBG, Epic, and Unity. We deliver player-centric, AAA-quality experiences with a commitment to performance, accessibility, and engineering tools and frameworks that underpin gameplay.

Atomic Theory is a studio and a collaborative environment that aims to help studios and publishers navigate today's game development challenges. We have offices in Albany, NY; and Cardiff, UK, and operate on a global scale to Get Sh!t Done.

Our passion for gaming drives collaboration and bold, innovative solutions. We seek to create maximum value and positive impact on projects, building trust and delivering excellence through every interaction.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and thoughtful Lead Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will provide technical leadership across one or more projects while managing and developing a team of engineers.

You will be responsible for solving complex technical challenges, setting direction, maintaining engineering standards, and supporting the growth and development of the team. You should be comfortable working across different game engines and technology stacks, adapting your approach to suit each project's needs.

An ideal candidate is a strong problem solver with a broad technical background, a collaborative mindset, and the confidence to lead engineers through ambiguity, balancing hands-on development with mentorship, planning, and technical oversight.

What you'll do

• Technical Leadership: Provide clear technical direction and oversight for engineering teams, ensuring solutions are scalable, maintainable, and aligned with project goals.
• Systems and Feature Development: Design, implement, and review complex systems and features across proprietary and commercially available game engines. Remain hands-on where needed to tackle high-impact or high-risk work.
• People Leadership and Mentorship: Support and mentor engineers at varying experience levels, helping them grow their technical skills, confidence, and impact. Contribute to performance feedback and career development conversations as needed.
• Critical Problem Solving: Lead the investigation and resolution of complex technical challenges, applying advanced debugging and analytical techniques across multiple systems.
• Technical Design and Planning: Collaborate with designers, producers, and project leads to break down requirements, assess trade-offs, and define practical technical approaches.
• Code Review and Quality: Establish and uphold high engineering standards through regular code reviews, constructive feedback, and continuous improvement of development practices.

What we value

• Strong Technical Foundation: Extensive professional experience developing games using modern game engines (commercial or proprietary), with strong proficiency in C++ and solid mathematical fundamentals.
• Engineering Excellence: Commitment to writing clean, maintainable, and efficient code, with emphasis on long-term sustainability and best practices.
• Leadership and Ownership: Experience leading engineers or technical initiatives, taking responsibility for outcomes, and guiding teams through complex or ambiguous problems.
• Team Collaboration: Excellent communication skills and the ability to facilitate discussions between engineers, designers, producers, and project leads.
• Passion for Games: Genuine enthusiasm for games and a desire to help create engaging, high-quality experiences for players.

Nice-to-have

• People Management Experience: Prior experience formally managing engineers, including performance feedback, goal-setting, or hiring.
• Console Experience: Experience developing for current-generation consoles (e.g., Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Switch).
• Cross-Team Communication: Experience working closely with external partners or internal stakeholders to align on goals, provide technical guidance, and solve problems collaboratively.

What we can offer

Competitive Salary and Benefits Package: Your health and wellbeing is important to us, so we offer a variety of benefits including:

• Private Pension via Salary Sacrifice
• Optional Private Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Annual Leave, plus Bank Holidays and Winter Break Office Closure

• Hybrid Working Arrangement: Our Cardiff office is in City Centre, close to Cardiff Central Train Station. You’ll have flexibility to work from home and collaborate in person.
• Annual Research Credit: An annual credit to further enhance your skills.
• Professional Development: Biannual reviews and opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, internal tech talks, and learning from specialists in games and software development.
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible working environment with no crunch in our culture.
• Family Friendly: 6 weeks of Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave to support you during family events.
• Office Perks: Weekly team lunches, snacks, a fully equipped team lounge with consoles and games, and a supportive, creative environment.

Notes from the recruitment team

We invite you to apply even if your profile isn’t an exact match for all qualifications. Our team comes from varied backgrounds and we welcome diverse candidates, communities, and identities.

Rocket Science is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a discrimination- and harassment-free workplace. Rocket Scientists are expected to foster an environment where everyone feels included and respected.

Rocket Science does not accept unsolicited résumés from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms.