Game Developer

We are seeking an experienced developer to build and evolve the fun, reliable, and competitive game experiences that power our venues worldwide.

You will turn product concepts and design specifications into polished, production-ready features, integrating tightly with our hardware, Android tablet systems, and back-end cloud services. You will closely collaborate with Delivery Managers, Product Owners, QA, DevOps, and hardware teams across the full product development lifecycle from prototyping new gameplay mechanics through to stable, monitored live releases.

Core Responsibilities:

Game & Product Feature Development

• Collaborate with Product Owners, Developers, customers, and end users to identify requirements
• Collaborate with Product Owners to turn user stories and acceptance criteria into working features
• Develop, build, and maintain interactive, engaging, and performant game experiences for Android tablet platforms and web-based game clients
• Build responsive user interfaces for in-venue tablet and display systems using React and TypeScript
• Implement game logic, scoring systems, and state machines for competitive multiplayer formats
• Integrate front-end and game clients with back-end REST APIs and real-time WebSocket services

Hardware & Platform Integration

• Optimise existing systems for hardware constraints or limitations
• Develop software interfaces for physical hardware components (sensors, buttons, displays, networked peripherals)
• Build reliable communication layers between Android tablets and game hardware
• Ensure low-latency, resilient behaviour in high-energy live-venue environments
• Support Android application versioning and in-venue update rollouts collaborating with DevOps

Infrastructure

• Collaborate with DevOps to build and maintain CI/CD pipelines
• Contribute to monitoring and observability solutions
• Understand and apply security best practices

Quality, Testing & Documentation

• Write automated tests (unit, integration, and end-to-end) for game logic and critical paths
• Create and maintain clear, modular code
• Participate in code review, providing and receiving constructive feedback
• Perform exploratory testing and participate in QA review cycles
• Report development progress and surface blockers early
• Create and maintain technical documentation and in-code commentary
• Promote knowledge sharing through code review and internal demos
• Troubleshoot production issues and participate in on-call rotation as needed

Continuous Improvement

• Identify performance bottlenecks and implement optimisations for smooth in-venue gameplay
• Stay current with relevant web and Android development practices and tooling
• Contribute to technical discussions on architecture, tooling, and process improvements

Reports to: Head of Engineering Job Category: Technical Minimum Experience: 3+ years building production web or mobile applications, The ‘how’ we fulfil our role is just as important as the ‘what’. The following skills and behaviours are essential for this role:

• Web Technologies: Strong knowledge of HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, and TypeScript. Experience with React and component-based UI architecture
• Android Development: Experience with Android development. Comfortable building and maintaining tablet-targeted applications
• APIs & Real-Time Systems: Ability to work with RESTful APIs and WebSocket-based real-time communication. Understanding of JSON data structures and API authentication (OAuth2/JWT)
• Full-Stack Awareness: Appreciation of full-stack concerns: client-server communication, database access, and cloud service interaction
• Version Control: Proficient with Git and team-based workflows (pull requests, branching strategies)
• Agile Practices: Comfortable working in Agile/Scrum teams and general SDLC processes and practices
• Communication: Clear, influential, persuasive communicator; able to articulate technical decisions to both technical and non-technical colleagues, at all levels
• Collaboration: Build and maintain trust. Work well as part of a team and individually
• Work Management: Establish estimates and deadlines, execute on them, recognise impact of key issues, communicate progress and challenges
• Personal Development: Genuine curiosity about new technologies, platforms, and ways of working

Minimum Experience:

• 3+ years of experience creating production applications with

o HTML

o CSS

o JavaScript:

• DOM

• LocalStorage

• Web Components & Custom Elements

o Manipulation of the DOM without frameworks

o 2D Canvas API

• Experience with

o Android development ecosystem:

• Android Studio

• Android SDK

• Android API & Levels

o Chromium & associated developer tools:

• Chrome DevTools

• Lighthouse & Profiling

o Node.js

Desired Experience:

• Experience with

o Capacitor/Cordova/PhoneGap app frameworks

o WebGL or shader programming

o developing games or interactive entertainment applications

o real-time multiplayer systems or networked game logic

o game loop patterns, state machines, or event-driven architectures

o OOP or similar patterns

o GSAP or similar animation libraries

o Reusable systems

o performance optimisation for hardware constraints or limitations

o monitoring tools for live application health

• Exposure to hardware integration (serial protocols or embedded systems)
• Understanding of CI/CD pipelines and automated testing frameworks

What We Offer:

• Collaborative, supportive work environment
• Opportunities for progression and increased responsibility as the business scales
• Company-wide social events
• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Birthday off work
• Competitive benefits, including:

o Buying Annual Leave scheme

o Company pension scheme

o Private Healthcare (optional)

o Life Assurance Policy

o Cycle to work scheme

o Flu vaccinations

o Eyecare vouchers

• Salary sacrifice platform, including Employee discounts, EV scheme, and a Health & wellbeing programme
• Free parking, * Bereavement leave
• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Private medical insurance
• Sick pay

Founded in 2018, 501 is the global leader in social entertainment systems, dedicated to bringing innovative and engaging solutions to the market. As a pioneering tech company, we specialise in transforming traditional activities (such as darts, golf and more), into digitally enhanced, competitive socialising experiences., 501 is shaping the future of social entertainment. We deliver immersive, tech-driven experiences to some of the UK’s most exciting hospitality and leisure venues. As we continue expanding globally, we are looking for dedicated people who want to make an impact and contribute to a fast-moving, innovative business. If you believe you have the skills and mindset to thrive in this role, we’d love to hear from you.