Rockstar Games Lead Programmer, United Kingdom

Rockstar Games North is seeking a seasoned and highly technical Lead Programmer to spearhead the evolution of our Creator Platforms, specifically focusing on the continued growth and integration of the FiveM and RedM ecosystems. Based in our state‑of‑the‑art studio in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland, this leadership role is at the vanguard of the “User Generated Content” (UGC) revolution in gaming.

As a Lead Programmer at Rockstar, you will be responsible for the low‑level architecture that empowers millions of players and creators to build, share, and experience custom game modes on dedicated servers. This position requires a rare blend of deep technical “under‑the‑hood” knowledge and sophisticated leadership capabilities. You will manage high‑performing engineering teams while collaborating with global stakeholders to ensure our creator tools remain the most powerful and secure in the entertainment industry.

Category
Details

Primary Keyword
Lead Programmer

Company Name Rockstar Games (Rockstar North)

Department Creator Platform Team

Job Type Full‑Time, Permanent

Work Model In‑Office

Location Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Primary Platforms FiveM, RedM

Core Technologies C++, Scripting (Python/Lua), Low‑level Systems

Rockstar Games provides competitive salary packages that reflect Edinburgh’s status as a premier global hub for game development. The following estimate provides a benchmark for a Lead‑level engineering role in the UK market for 2026.

Seniority Level
Estimated Annual Salary (£)
Typical Benefits Package

Lead Programmer £95,000 – £135,000+ Performance Bonus, Private Healthcare

Senior Lead / Principal £140,000 – £175,000+ LTI/Equity, Enhanced Pension

Note:

Final salary offers are highly individualized, taking into account the candidate’s specific track record in low‑level systems, previous leadership of large teams (10+), and history of shipped AAA titles. Rockstar is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

The Creator Platform team’s mandate is to democratize game development within the Rockstar ecosystem. We build the technology that allows creators to develop their own game modes and modifications using a variety of scripting languages. By joining this team as a Lead Programmer
, you are not just building a feature; you are building an engine for community creativity.

• Strategic Architecture: Develop and maintain a comprehensive strategy for the continuous improvement of the FiveM and RedM platforms. You will oversee the low‑level systems that allow for fully customised dedicated servers and complex modding capabilities.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Oversee multiple engineering teams. You will work closely with appointed engineering leads to align on technical decisions, while mentoring senior and junior developers to elevate the team’s collective skill set.
• SDLC Management: Implement and maintain a rigorous Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). You must ensure that development processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with the overarching security standards of Rockstar Games.
• Integration Strategy: Leverage your deep knowledge of our internal codebase to devise well‑considered strategies for integrating Creator Platform technology into core Rockstar products.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Act as a bridge between the Creator Platform and departments such as Game Engineering, Security, Online Services, and Dev Ops. You will guarantee that all community‑driven technology meets our stringent security and performance guidelines.
• Group Scaling: Support the ongoing growth of the technical group. This includes leading the recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding of top‑tier engineering talent to the Edinburgh studio.
• Milestone Planning: Work with production and engineering leads to set attainable development milestones, ensuring that complex roadmaps are translated into measurable outcomes.

At Rockstar Games, we believe that an inclusive…