Expert Animation Programmer (R&D)

CD PROJEKT RED; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 180,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical healthcare

RRSP with employer matching

LSA – $100 per month

Flexible working hours

Dog-friendly office

Job summary

CD PROJEKT RED is seeking an Expert Animation Programmer to join our Vancouver-based R&D team. You will develop next-generation character animation systems, integrating generative models, and shaping how characters move across our titles.

You should have 7+ years in game programming focused on animation, strong C++ skills, real-time animation know-how, and experience with major engines like Unreal. Collaboration with ML researchers and designers is essential to deliver high-quality features.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of game programming experience focused on animation systems.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and performance optimization.
• Deep understanding of real-time 3D animation, IK/FK, and rigging.
• Experience with large-scale game engines (Unreal Engine preferred).
• Knowledge of linear algebra and vector math.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain advanced animation systems and tools.
• Collaborate with ML researchers, engineers, animators and game designers to define and achieve high-quality animation features.
• Optimize and debug animation code and systems for usability, performance, memory and stability across multiple target platforms.
• Prototype new animation techniques, including procedural generation and physics-based systems.
• Mentor junior programmers and contribute to code reviews, ensuring high standards for code quality.
• Work with lead engineers to plan project milestones and deliver high-quality work on schedule.

Skills

Game programming

C++ proficiency

Real-time animation

Rigging systems

Math / linear algebra

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

Blender

Job description

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Job Description

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for an experienced Expert Animation Programmer to join our R&D team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. This role is focused on the development and implementation of cutting-edge, next-generation character animation systems that leverage animation generation models. You have a deep expertise in animation technology, character rigging, and tool development, and will be instrumental in defining the future of character animation in our titles. Experience in generative models and machine learning is a bonus but not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain advanced animation systems and tools to complement generative models for realistic character motion.
• Collaborate with machine learning researchers, engineers, animators and game designers to define and achieve high-quality animation features and workflow improvements.
• Optimize and debug animation code and systems for usability, performance, memory and stability across multiple target platforms.
• Prototype new animation techniques, including procedural generation and physics-based systems.
• Mentor junior programmers and contribute to code reviews, ensuring high standards for code quality and documentation.
• Work with lead engineers to plan project milestones and deliver high-quality work on schedule.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in game programming, with a focus on character animation systems.
• Strong proficiency of C++ and experience with performance optimization.
• Deep understanding of real-time 3D animation principles, kinematics (IK/FK), and rigging systems.
• Strong math skills, particularly linear algebra and vector math.
• Experience working with large-scale game engines, e.g. Unreal Engine, Unity, or proprietary engines (Unreal Engine preferred).

Nice to have

(please note these skills are not required for to apply for the position)

• Experience with Motion Matching, procedural animation techniques, and physics simulation.
• Familiarity with animation pipelines and DCC tools (Maya, Blender).
• Prior experience shipping a AAA title.
• Knowledge of parallel programming and GPU optimization techniques (e.g., CUDA, compute shaders).

Additional Information

The application window for this position will close by 2 October 2026.

This job can be hybrid/in-office or fully remote.

Health & Well-Being

• Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
• Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
• Paid leave — 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, & 12 calendar holidays per year
• RRSP with employer matching.
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) – $100 per month to use towards fitness, wellness, internet, home office equipment, learning, streaming services, and more.
• Menstrual leave — employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
• RED Parents Network — support for working parents.
• Flexible working hours.

Perks & Professional Growth

• Trainings, lectures, and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
• A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office

• Dog-friendly office — bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet.
• Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
• No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.

This position is a new role.

Estimated pay range for this position:

$180,100 - $247,600 CAD annually.

At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on job-related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.