Principal Rendering Engineer

Are you an experienced Principal Rendering Engineer ready to shape the visual future of AAA games?

This is an opportunity to join an established game development studio working on an ambitious, unannounced AAA project, where quality, performance, and player experience sit at the heart of everything being built.

Based within leading European game development hubs, this role offers the chance to push rendering and graphics technology to the next level while collaborating with highly skilled engineers, artists, and technical artists.

About the role...

As a Principal Rendering Engineer, you will work closely with technical leadership and the wider engineering team to design, implement, and optimise rendering and graphics systems across AAA projects. You will play a key role in defining visual direction, advancing rendering technology, and ensuring outstanding performance across platforms.

This position combines hands-on technical leadership with deep collaboration across art and engineering, helping deliver visually stunning, immersive experiences that inspire players.

What you'll be doing:

• Design, develop, and optimise advanced real-time rendering features
• Implement and refine shaders, lighting systems, and material workflows
• Collaborate closely with artists and technical artists to achieve exceptional visual quality
• Optimise rendering performance, memory usage, and scalability
• Maintain and evolve the studio’s rendering pipeline and graphics architecture
• Research, prototype, and integrate cutting-edge rendering techniques
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the engineering team

What we're looking for:

• Significant professional experience in real-time rendering and graphics programming
• Strong proficiency in C++ and shader languages such as HLSL or GLSL
• Deep understanding of modern rendering algorithms and techniques
• Experience working with Unreal Engine or comparable modern game engines
• Proven experience profiling and optimising performance and memory usage
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines
• Experience shipping AAA titles is highly desirable

Nice to have:

• Experience with additional programming or scripting languages
• Background in large-scale, real-time, or multiplayer game development

Location and working model:

• Hybrid working with a minimum of three days per week on site
• Studio locations in the UK and the Netherlands, with collaboration across both

What's on offer:

• Opportunity to work on international AAA game projects
• Access to cutting-edge development hardware and tools
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Enhanced holiday allowance including a Christmas shutdown
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Private healthcare including dental, optical, mental health support, and online GP access
• Pension and life assurance schemes
• Regular team incentives and social events
• Modern studio environment with well-stocked communal spaces

If you’re a senior graphics specialist who wants to influence the visual identity and technical direction of AAA games, we’d love to hear from you.  Apply now, or email Ryan Templeman - View email address on skillsearch.com