Lead Animation Programmer

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading entertainment company in the City of Westminster is seeking a skilled Lead Animation Programmer. In this role, you will lead a team of animation programmers to enhance animation techniques for AAA titles. Candidates should have advanced C++ knowledge, experience with modern animation tools like 3DSMax or Maya, and a strong understanding of game technology principles. This position offers a hybrid work model that balances remote and in-office responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of C++ and software development.
• Experience working on and shipping at least one AAA video game title.
• Good understanding of cloth and motorised ragdoll physics simulation.

Responsibilities

• Leading, mentoring and supporting a team of animation programmers.
• Ensuring AAA animation systems and pipelines are delivered successfully.
• Collaborate closely with production to plan the team’s schedule.

Skills

C++

Modern animation pipelines

3DSMax

Maya

MotionBuilder

Game technology principles

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Job description

Role Overview

Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next… From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive. Rocksteady Studios is an award-winning, critically acclaimed video game developer. Founded in 2004, we are home to the widely celebrated Batman: Arkham series of games. Our philosophy for game development is all about treating people well to create quality entertainment that stands the test of time. We're a one-project studio that built our success by combining genre-defining gameplay and character-driven cinematic narrative with AAA production values. Born in the heart of London, our multicultural team takes inspiration from the culture and history of our home in one of the most diverse cities in the world. Rocksteady is looking for a Lead Animation Programmer to join our dedicated and collaborative team, who is ready for the challenge of bringing our next AAA title to life. The role involves leading and supporting our team of animation programmers to deliver world class animation techniques in collaboration with our Animation, Cinematics, Core Engine and Game Code teams. Hands-on coding is a key part too, working on animation systems and tools, with a focus on gameplay animation.

Responsibilities

• Leading, mentoring and supporting a team of animation programmers, and coordinating with our development partners
• Ensuring our AAA animation systems and pipelines are delivered successfully and implemented to a high technical standard
• Collaborate closely with Production to plan the Animation Code team's schedule
• Implementing and driving new animation and cinematics features and pipelines
• Co-ordinating with other disciplines, communicating technical concepts and requirements in a way that facilitates a smooth workflow
• With your team, acting as a first line of support for our gameplay teams, evaluating new feature requests for their pipelines and tools and implementing time-saving and quality-improving changes to help our team create best-in-industry gameplay and cinematic animation
• Working with the Technical Director and other Code Leads to help improve development processes across the Code team

Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of C++ and software development
• Proficient understanding of modern animation pipelines and tools
• Comprehensive understanding of animation tools such as 3DSMax, Maya, or MotionBuilder, with experience developing plugins for DCC tools a plus
• Good understanding of the main gaming platforms and the requirements needed to develop software on them
• Good understanding of cloth and motorised ragdoll physics simulation
• Experience with optimising animation systems and assets
• Experience with Motion Matching based locomotion systems
• Unreal Engine 5 experience an advantage
• Experience of line management and leading teams
• Experience working on and shipping at least one AAA video game title
• Good understanding of game technology principles
• Experience defining, implementing and supporting production processes
• Experience supporting and collaborating with artists to produce high quality content and create efficient processes

Hybrid Working

Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.