Lead Animation Programmer

Warner Bros. Entertainment; London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in entertainment is seeking a Lead Animation Programmer in London. The role involves leading animation programming teams, ensuring quality AAA systems, and collaborating closely with various disciplines. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in game development and a strong understanding of animation tools and processes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams and managing projects.
• Experience shipping at least one AAA video game title.
• Ability to collaborate with artists to produce high-quality content.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of animation programmers.
• Implement new animation and cinematics features.
• Evaluate new feature requests to enhance animation quality.

Skills

Line management

Game technology principles

High-quality content production

Tools

3DS Max

Maya

MotionBuilder

Unreal Engine 5

Job description

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. 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 self. Here you are supported, celebrated, and 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 focuses on treating people well to create quality entertainment that stands the test of time. We’re a one-project studio that has built success by combining genre-defining gameplay and character-driven cinematic narrative with AAA production values. Born in London, our multicultural team draws inspiration from the culture and history of one of the most diverse cities in the world.

We are looking for a Lead Animation Programmer to join our dedicated and collaborative team. This 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 of the role, working on animation systems and tools, with a focus on gameplay animation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of animation programmers, coordinating with development partners.
• Ensure 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.
• Implement and drive new animation and cinematics features and pipelines.
• Coordinate with other disciplines, communicating technical concepts and requirements to facilitate smooth workflow.
• Support gameplay teams by evaluating new feature requests and implementing improvements to enhance gameplay and cinematic animation quality.
• Work with the Technical Director and other Code Leads to improve development processes across the team.

Technical Requirements

• Advanced understanding of C++ and software development.
• Proficient understanding of modern animation pipelines and tools.
• Experience with animation tools such as 3DS Max, Maya, or MotionBuilder, and developing plugins for DCC tools is a plus.
• Good understanding of main gaming platforms and development requirements.
• Knowledge of cloth and motorized ragdoll physics simulation.
• Experience with optimizing animation systems and assets.
• Experience with Motion Matching locomotion systems.
• Unreal Engine 5 experience is an advantage.

Skill Requirements

• Experience in 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.
• Ability to collaborate with artists to produce high-quality content and create efficient processes.

Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a hybrid work model, combining remote and in-office work, following company policy and subject to agreement with your Line Manager. WBD reserves the right to change this arrangement as necessary for business needs with reasonable notice.

How We Get Things Done…

Our guiding principles are central to our operations. Find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with insights from our team. We look forward to discussing how they resonate with you during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery values diverse perspectives and experiences. We are committed to equal opportunity employment, considering qualified candidates regardless of sex, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other protected category.

If you require adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions.