Senior Animation Systems Programmer

Rockstar Games; Oakville; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Senior Animation Systems Programmer, where you will be at the forefront of developing advanced animation systems for large-scale character-based games. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with talented professionals across various teams, pushing the boundaries of character animation technology. You will be responsible for creating and optimizing animation systems, ensuring high-quality character motion in immersive gaming experiences. If you are passionate about animation and eager to contribute to innovative projects, this is the perfect opportunity to make your mark in the gaming industry.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as an engine or animation systems programmer.
• Experience with AAA character-based games or VFX animation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain high-level animation systems and tools.
• Implement new animation features and integrate with existing systems.
• Research and develop improvements for animation technology.

Skills

C++ Programming

Character Animation Systems

Optimization Techniques

Multi-threading Techniques

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in Computer Science

Job description

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry.

Rockstar is on the lookout for a talented Senior Animation Systems Programmer to join the Animation R&D team. This position will help us in developing advanced animation systems for large open world character-based games. We are looking for a candidate with strong C++ programming skills, good knowledge of and interest in character animation systems, and passion for realistic, high quality character motion.

This is a full-time, in-office position based out of Rockstar’s new state-of-the-art game development studio in Carlsbad, CA.

WHAT WE DO

• We develop animation technology, from performance capture to a sophisticated runtime engine, for massive open world games.
• We are a global team of programmers and researchers who collaborate on pushing the boundaries of character animation on next generation hardware.
• We support and work closely with performance capture, technical art, animation, physics, and gameplay teams across multiple Rockstar studios.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Join our core animation technology team and work closely with animation, gameplay, physics, graphics, technical art, and tools teams across different Rockstar studios.
• Develop, maintain, extend, and support an extensive high-level animation system, pipeline, and tools.
• Implement well designed, robust, highly optimal new animation features, integrating them into our existing animation, gameplay, physics, and graphics systems.
• Keep up to date with the latest academic and industry breakthroughs, independently research and develop improvements to continuously push our technology forward.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree in Computer Science or related discipline.
• 5+ years of industry experience working as an engine or animations systems programmer.
• Industry experience working on AAA character based games, or character based VFX animation.
• Experience developing within a large existing codebase, collaborating or working independently within a large team.

SKILLS

• Familiarity with common optimization and multi-threading techniques.
• Good communication skills, ability to clearly share complex technical information with other programmers, animators and technical artists.

PLUSES

Please note that these are desirable skills and are not required to apply for the position.

• C# or python programming skills.
• Experience creating, extending or working directly with an animation system within a game engine.
• Involvement with pipeline or UI based tools development or support.
• Experience creating or working directly with physics or gameplay systems.
• Practical success optimizing or debugging large/complex multithreaded C++ code.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a resume and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect. In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide accommodations to job applicants with disabilities (or on the basis of any other protected ground under human rights legislation) during the recruitment process, as well as to any Rockstar employees in order for them to perform the essential functions of their roles. Rockstar will comply with its obligations under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and will provide accommodations as long as such accommodations do not pose an undue hardship on Rockstar. If you need more information about Rockstar’s accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department.

If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.