Programming roles explained

Engine Programmer

An Engine Programmer develops the core systems that power a game, focusing on optimising performance, rendering, and physics to ensure that the game runs smoothly across different platforms.

As an Engine Programmer, you’ll work closely with game designers and other developers to build the foundational technology that supports the game. You’ll write and optimise code for game engines like Unreal or Unity, improving performance, reducing load times, and ensuring that the game works seamlessly on various devices and platforms.

Many Engine Programmers have a degree in computer science or software engineering, but practical experience in low-level programming languages like C++ or C# is crucial. You’ll need strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work with complex systems, optimising performance while maintaining the game’s visual and gameplay quality.

For this role, you should be someone who enjoys technical challenges, has strong programming skills, and loves optimising systems for performance. You’ll need to be comfortable working on both the front-end and back-end of game development.

Since competition is tough, your portfolio should include examples of engine features or optimisations you’ve developed, demonstrating your technical expertise.

You’ll love this role if you’re into
  • Coding
  • Being organised
  • Maths
  • Designing things

In your own time, at your own pace

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