// Open Role at Keywords Studios
Join d3t, a leading AAA co-development studio, as a Principal Programmer. Take ownership of complex technical challenges across various high-profile projects for PC and consoles, contributing to a supportive, anti-crunch environment.
d3t is at the forefront of videogame technology and creativity, delivering experienced co-development services to some of the biggest AAA clients in the world. Our studio, part of the global Keywords Studios Group, works on multiple exciting projects at any one time, offering plenty of variety and involvement.
Our studio projects have included EA SPORTS FC™ 26, Hogwarts Legacy, Exoborne, Mafia: The Old Country, Alan Wake Remastered, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Vampire The Masquerade - Blood Hunt, Mafia II: Definitive Edition, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. We also work in partnership with our global clients including: Playground Games, EA and Archetype Entertainment.
The d3t studios are based near Daresbury (Cheshire), Newcastle (Tyne & Wear) and Madrid where we offer an amazingly professional and supportive working environment. We are passionate about what we do and pride ourselves on our anti-crunch mentality, mentoring ethos and have been awarded ‘Best Places to Work’ multiple times by gamesindustry.biz. In addition, we won ‘Best Creative Service Provider’ at Develop 2022 and were nominated in 2023 & 2024.
The Programming Team is expanding and this exciting opportunity for a Principal Programmer will be a 12 month fixed-term contract (with potential extension), based in either of our UK studio sites (Daresbury or Newcastle), on a hybrid working basis. The working pattern is 3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice.
The Role – Principal Programmer
We are looking for a Principal Programmer to join our world class Engineering Team. At d3t we expect our programmers to be generalists, able to adapt to any technical challenge, but also play to their strengths and passions.
A Principal Programmer at d3t works alongside our Tech Directors and Leads to form the experienced core of the department. Our Principal Programmers can expect to take ownership on large, complex and interesting technological challenges for our high-profile clients around the globe on a variety of projects from AAA new IP and world renowned franchises to ports, remasters, remakes and embedded co-dev.
At this time we are particularly looking for Principal Programmers with professional experience in at least two of the following engines: Proprietary, Unreal, Unity or Frostbite and experience/ ownership in any of the following: UI / Animation / Physics / Core Tech / Systems / Gameplay / 3Cs / Vehicle Physics.
Responsibilities:
· Researching, owning, implementing and delivering large systems autonomously and as part of a team.
· Work on a variety of projects and low-level programming challenges, across PC and consoles.
· Take on the most complex programming tasks and bugs.
· Communicating and collaborating with multiple disciplines to deliver work on time, to spec and to a high standard.
· Work closely with local teams and global clients to gather requirements and update on progress.
· Support less experienced members of the engineering team through advice, code reviews and calls.
· Technical point of contact or lead on small projects or teams reporting to production and engineering leadership
Teammates
https://d3tltd.com/d3t-welcomes-richard-britt-principal-programmer/
https://d3tltd.com/richard-bloor-principal-programmer-reaches-ten-years-at-d3t/
Requirements
Essential Experience + Skills
· Experience: 10+ years
· Languages: Expertise in many including C++
· Engines: Experienced with commercial and bespoke game engines
· Knowledge: Developed large scale systems in any of (e.g. animation, gameplay, UI, physics, networking, memory, animation, core tech, graphics, profiling etc.)
· Technology: IDEs, source control, build infrastructure
· Confidence: Will take on any challenge or responsibility
· Dependability: Works autonomously, flexibly, proactively and to deadlines
· Growth: A desire to continually update knowledge and expertise
· Teamwork: Enjoy working as part of a team and supporting others as well as being the initial person working with clients on small teams.
· Communication: Able to clearly discuss technical detail, solutions and progress with multiple disciplines including non technical developers and clients.
· Documentation: Able to write clear and detailed technical plans, schedules and usage documents to the highest standard.
Desirable Experience + Skills
· Knowledge of render tech
· Released games
· Low level console development
· Full development cycle
· Porting games
· Tools development
· Build and infrastructure
· Small team or sub team leadership
At d3t we work flexibly, but value in-person collaboration: this position is offered on a hybrid basis only at either of our UK sites (3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice). We value work/life balance and have a discretionary flexible hours system and operate a no-crunch policy as a studio.
Benefits
d3t Studio Benefits & Perks:
Interviews will be held by video call.
Don't meet every single requirement? Not a problem - please apply. At d3t 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.
- 10+ years of professional programming experience, with expertise in C++ and commercial/bespoke game engines. - Developed large scale systems (e.g., animation, gameplay, UI, physics, networking, graphics, profiling). - Experience with IDEs, source control, and build infrastructure. - Ability to work autonomously, proactively, and meet deadlines. - Strong communication and teamwork skills, including client interaction and supporting less experienced team members. - Able to write clear and detailed technical plans and documentation. - Desirable: Knowledge of render tech, released games, low-level console development, full development cycle, porting games, tools development, build and infrastructure, small team or sub-team leadership.