Systems Designer - RuneScape: Dragonwilds

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

This role is a Fixed Term Contract anticipated to end late 2027 / early 2028.
Are you a designer who loves building deep, interconnected gameplay features that engage players over a prolonged period?As a Systems Designer on RuneScape: Dragonwilds, you will help define and evolve the interconnected systems that drive the cooperative survival-crafting experience. You’ll be responsible for progression, economy, game balance, crafting, and survival mechanics, helping to ensure every system feels meaningful, cohesive, and deeply rewarding. 

You’ll work with lead and principal designers, as well as collaborating across disciplines to deliver systems that serve both player freedom and long-term engagement. Your expertise will help shape how players live, grow, and thrive in Dragonwilds, blending classic skill mastery with survival-driven gameplay and skill spell magic. 

A deep understanding of survival-crafting systems, and a passion for RuneScape are essential for this role. 

What you’ll be doing:

• Work closely with design Leads & Principals to help establish and implement progression for new regions and refine progression in existing regions. 

• Understand, maintain and further develop a global resource economy 

• Create, manage and maintain an extensive library of data assets and data tables, relating to items, progression and recipes 

• Create new world object blue prints for the world team that act as sources for new item i.e. plants, minerals and other interactive objects 

• Integrate narrative entries for all items and materials in the game 

• Manage and balance AI, object and special loot drop tables in keeping with established patterns and best practices 

• Create new decorative item blue prints to engage and excite our players 

• Work close with production, art, audio and engineering to make sure all survival progression dependencies are delivered, implemented and are of suitable quality 

• Listen to and work with data and product in identifying and addressing issues, perceived or otherwise, finding the root cause and offering then implementing potential solutions 

• Propose changes, improvements and new ideas relating to the survival progression pillar of the game 

What we’re looking for:

• Have shipped or maintained systems in a live MMO, survival MMO, or similar. 

• 2+ years in a System Design role or similar 

• Excel at designing and balancing interconnected gameplay systems. 

• Understand live economies, resource scarcity, and player progression pacing. 

• Enjoy working across teams to translate creative direction into functional, scalable systems. 

• Experience working in the Unreal Engine, or similar AAA game development engine 

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.