Technical Designer - RuneScape

Office location: Cambridge, UK – This position offers flexible working options, including predominantly remote work. Applicants should be based (or willing to relocate) within a comfortable commuting distance of our office to attend onsite as required.

Are you a technically minded game designer who loves building smart, scalable gameplay systems, and wants to be a part of the next exciting era of RuneScape?

As a Technical Designer on RuneScape, you’ll bridge the gap between game design and engineering, translating design intent into technically sound systems, using our in-house scripting language. You’ll prototype new features, optimise and maintain existing ones, and work closely with content teams to deliver engaging updates for millions of players.
From scripting content to building tools that support designers, you’ll be at the heart of innovation on a live, consistently updating MMORPG with a 25 year legacy, and in its golden age now.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to one of gaming’s most iconic franchises, working in a highly collaborative team with clear impact on player experience.

What you’ll be doing:

• Implement and iterate on gameplay systems using RuneScript, our in-house scripting language.
• Translate design concepts into technical requirements and maintain documentation for tools, workflows, and systems.
• Prototype and test new gameplay mechanics and features, helping to define how they’ll scale and perform in a live environment.
• Collaborate with designers, engineers, and other disciplines on small to medium-sized multi-functional teams.
• Optimise existing systems and identify performance issues or bugs during development and live support.
• Maintain a deep technical understanding of RuneScape’s core systems to ensure stability, scalability, and player enjoyment.
• Create tools and utilities to streamline workflows for fellow designers.
• Engage with our passionate player community, understanding their needs and helping to shape the game with empathy and data-informed design.
• Support project management efforts, ensuring deliverables meet the demands of RuneScape’s fast-paced release cycle.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience working in a game design or development team with strong understanding of the full game development lifecycle, ideally on MMORPGs.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as LUA or Python, with a desire to learn in-house tools like RuneScript.
• Technical design skills with the ability to prototype, test, and refine systems independently.
• Passion for MMORPGs and live game ecosystems; strong familiarity with RuneScape is highly desirable.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills and able to work with multiple disciplines and clearly present ideas and solutions.
• Experience managing time effectively and contributing to the smooth delivery of game content in a live environment.
• A problem-solving mindset and the willingness to take initiative on technical challenges.

What we offer:

When you join Jagex you can look forward to a generous Perks & Benefits package including:

• Private Healthcare, including Dental Plan.
• Minimum 6% Pension contributions.
• Employee Assistance Programme & onsite Counselling.
• Life Insurance.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.
• Enhanced family leave policies from day 1.
• Flexible working hours.
• 25 days annual leave + Bank holidays & the option to buy/sell holidays + so much more!

About Jagex:

We are Jagex: The RuneScape Company. Home to one of gaming’s most enduring success stories. We create deep, community-powered games with worlds that evolve, inspire, and endure. Our flagship MMORPG franchise, RuneScape, has welcomed over 300 million player accounts, inspiring generations of players across PC and mobile for 25 years.

As we begin our 26th year, we are accelerating our strategy to expand RuneScape into a broader ecosystem of forever games and connected experiences, grounded in a renewed commitment to integrity and fair play. This includes the reduction of monetisation mechanics, as well as the launch of RuneScape: DragonWilds into Steam Early Access in 2025, representing a major step in building a multi-genre future for the RuneScape universe. We remain focused on building enduring worlds, empowering player-led innovation, and laying the foundations for the boldest era in RuneScape’s history. For more information, visit www.jagex.com.

Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, we are home to passionate creators, storytellers, engineers, and even a few dreamers, all united by a single mission: To shape the future of online worlds and empower players to make them their own. We’re looking for people to join us who share our ambitions and values. We foster an inclusive workplace built on trust, autonomy, and a shared passion for creating experiences that inspire our communities.
Our values guide everything we do: We Embrace Fellowship by collaborating and sharing openly. We Hone our Craft by always learning and improving; We Honour our Vows by being honest and transparent; We are our Customers’ Heroes by striving to understand our team & player needs, and We Seize The Day by making the most of every opportunity.

Join us. The next era of RuneScape and the next chapter of Jagex: The RuneScape Company starts now.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and we recruit, develop, and promote based on merit and ability. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the recruitment process, please let us know when you’re invited to interview.