Full Stack Developer (Web Games)

Job type: Permanent

Salary: £35,000–£45,000 based on experience.

Application Close Date: Sunday 4th May

IMPORTANT

• Hybrid(working a minimum of 3 days per week from our studio in Portsmouth)
• We can only accept applications from candidates who live and have the right to work in the UK

OVERVIEW

Waffle Studio is a startup game studio creating mobile puzzle games for all ages. Our flagship game, Waffle (wafflegame.net), has over 470,000 daily players worldwide and the game has been played over 475 million times since launching in February 2022. From the success of Waffle, we are now growing a team of creative puzzle makers, and we are very excited about it!

We are seeking a talented and versatileFull Stack Developerto join our growing puzzle game studio, to bring new web-based puzzle games to life, from conception through to launch and beyond. You’ll work on new and existing titles, and will also contribute to our upcoming platform in which we’ll host our games. The role will be based at our new office in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an already successful, profitable startup as a key player in our engineering team. In particular, this role would be a great opportunity for a web developer looking to marry their engineering skills with their passion for puzzles and games.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Ideally you are a creative and driven web developer with an eye for good design and user experiences. A prolific creator, you are passionate about continuous learning and building new things.

As a key member of the engineering team at a small startup, you’ll need to be comfortable navigating across the full technology stack when creating, improving and distributing updates to our games and platform. This role requires an openness to embrace new technologies and approaches.

Effective collaboration will be a big part of this role, as you’ll work with multidisciplinary team members including data scientists, artists and community managers.

This position demands versatility, initiative, and a genuine enthusiasm for creating puzzle games and moments that will delight our players in their daily lives.

TECHNOLOGY STACK

Our platform and games are built using web technologies. While we welcome and encourage engineers to apply who come from more traditional game development environments, you will be expected to use web technologies in this role. We are looking for engineers that are keen to flex their skills across the entire web stack.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, develop, and maintain our puzzle games
• Contribute to our new puzzle platform app
• Collaborate with talented artists to bring moments of surprise and delight into our games
• Collaborate with data scientists to implement experiments that improve gameplay and user engagement
• Work both independently and as part of a team on multiple projects
• Participate in code reviews and technical discussions to ensure high-quality and effective solutions
• Optimise performance and user experience across different devices and platforms
• Create and maintain thorough documentation for your work
• Proactively contribute towards process improvement, technically and otherwise

REQUIREMENTS

• 2-3 years of industry experience
• Strong eye for design and usability in highly interactive applications
• Knowledge of modern web development practices and full-stack capabilities
• Proficiency in Javascript/Typescript
• Experience with NodeJS and React
• Depth of knowledge and experience using CSS
• Familiarity with version control systems (Git)
• Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of data structures and algorithms
• Excellent communicator; technical and non technical, written and oral

DESIRABLE

• A love of games, especially puzzle games
• Understanding of game mechanics and player engagement principles
• Experience using serverless architectures with cloud-service providers such as AWS
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Games Development, or related field
• Ability to create mockups and assets using design software (Figma, Adobe Illustrator)
• Experience using JS and CSS to drive animations on the web
• An incessant desire to build things

BENEFITS

• Hybrid working culture, with your own desk
• Luxury harbourside office, complete with pool table
• Well connected location, close to Gunwharf Quays and the train/coach station
• Flexibility around our core 10am-4pm work hours to support your work-life balance
• Start-up culture with plenty of room to grow
• Free tea, coffee, and snacks (waffles, etc)
• Top-end hardware provided
• Vitality health insurance with perks programme

NOTE: Successful candidates will be required to complete a baseline (BPSS) security check to allow for 24/7 access to the dockyard. This includes an identity, right-to-work in the UK, employment history, and criminal record check.

ABOUT WAFFLE STUDIO

Waffle Studio was founded by Mr and Mrs Waffle (James and Ness) in 2022. Aside from wafflegame.net, we have also created giffle.com and onewordsearch.com. With our new luxury office in the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, we want to grow our own team of creative puzzle makers, foster new ideas, and bring to life a multitude of games on our own platform.

At Waffle Studio, we create globally-enjoyed puzzle experiences for all ages. Our mission is to inspire daily joy, critical thinking, and creativity through innovative game design. Join us on a journey where every day brings new opportunities to delight players worldwide.

Waffle Studio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to building and fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.