Principal Low-Level Graphics Programmer

Double Eleven

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a Principal Low-Level Graphics Programmer to join our award winning team in Middlesbrough (UK), home to the beautiful North Yorkshire coastline and countryside. As a Principal Low-Level Rendering Programmer, you will help architect, implement, and steer the technical vision for our next-generation custom graphics engine. This role is focused on the foundational engine plumbing and Render Hardware Interface (RHI) layer. You will design and evolve a highly optimized, GPU-driven rendering pipeline, while building robust infrastructure for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and cross-platform shader compilation. Beyond high-level architecture, you will be responsible for the core performance, stability, and efficiency of the graphics systems. You will dive deep into GPU bottlenecks to eliminate pipeline stalls using GPU profiling tools. Finally, as a principal leader, you will upskill and mentor the wider rendering team in modern API paradigms and low-level debugging techniques, ensuring our engine maximizes hardware utilization across PC and next-generation consoles.

Requirements

Extensive experience developing core rendering engine infrastructure.
Expert-level proficiency in modern graphics APIs, particularly DirectX 12.
Mastery of C++ and GPU programming, including a deep understanding of bindless architectures, GPU-driven rendering, and asynchronous GPU compute.
Comprehensive knowledge of modern GPU microarchitecture across PC and consoles.
Deep knowledge of hardware ray tracing architecture and acceleration structures.
Experience with GPU memory management in modern APIs.
Expert-level command of low-level profiling and debugging suites.
Extensive experience working with modern console platforms.
Strong desire to stay up-to-date with modern GPU technology and techniques.
Comfortable owning complex graphics features from planning through to delivery.
Proactive in identifying risks, trade-offs and technical solutions.
Experience collaborating with content creators ensuring assets meet performance and technical requirements.
Strong mentorship skills, capable of lifting the capabilities of a rendering team and guiding architectural decisions.
Clear communication, capable of driving technical decisions and presenting graphics strategies to directors, producers, clients, and external partners.

Nice To Haves

Bonus points for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 experience.

Responsibilities

Help drive engine‑level rendering strategy across multiple platforms.
Architect and implement modern rendering back-ends and low-level features.
Design and evolve a GPU-driven rendering pipeline.
Develop robust low-level GPU memory management systems.
Maintain a cross-platform shader compilation pipeline.
Architect and optimize hardware-accelerated ray tracing infrastructure.
Profile, analyse and fix GPU bottlenecks and minimise GPU pipeline stalls.
Mentor and upskill the engineering team in modern API paradigms and low-level hardware debugging techniques.

Benefits

Flexible working hours
28 days annual leave (20 days annual leave + 8 days bank holiday)
1 day leave for your birthday
1 day leave if you’re moving house
Up to 10 days discretionary annual leave during our end of year break
Subsidised market hall with food, freshly prepared daily by our in-house hospitality team
Free breakfast options, juice, hot drinks and fruit.
Employee referral bonus (up to £2000!)
Electric Car Scheme
Cycle to Work scheme
Free game codes, game swag and merchandise
Family-friendly leave available
Christmas Saving Scheme
Free parking
Best-in-class tools and workflows
Award schemes
Annual Profit Share
Length of Service recognition
Annual High Performer Award
Vitality Private Healthcare, discounts and rewards for you, your spouse and children (upon the successful completion of your 6 month probationary period)
Access to mental health and wellbeing support via Plumm (includes 4 free video therapy sessions per month for both the employee and up to 3 family members aged 18+), unlimited text therapy, courses, meditations
A personalised development plan with dedicated support tailored to your growth and goals
Access to an accredited Academy providing professional qualifications (and access to 500 UK discounts and offers via TOTUM when registered as a student)
A dedicated Workplace Experience team responsible for work environments, workplace and quality of employee life services to help foster collaboration, creativity and innovation
In-studio wellbeing programmes and People team support
Free activities via our Bus Tours programme (where on occasion, partners and children are welcome to join you)
Many team events to celebrate team and game milestones
Sponsored team activities including football, basketball, book club, movie club and more
Opportunity to contribute to our internal Employee Diversity and Equality Network