Real-Time Character Behavior Designer

Apple; Cupertino (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple in Cupertino, CA seeks a Character Behavior Designer to craft how a character responds to people and its environment, focusing on expression, responsiveness, and timing to push interactive computing.

You will author complete interactions, drive animation and speech from contextual input, and collaborate with designers, animators, and engineers while exploring new techniques for believable social behavior.

Qualifications

• Experience authoring and tuning NPC/companion behaviors using trees, state machines, utility systems, or visual scripting.
• Knowledge of interactive animation, including idles, reactions, look-ats, and additive layers.
• Experience with real-time game engines such as Unity or Unreal.
• Understanding of technical constraints in real-time environments.
• Great at providing and receiving feedback in a cross-discipline team environment.

Responsibilities

• Author complete character interactions, from first pass through final tuning.
• Drive animation, expression, speech, and timing from contextual input so each response feels intentional.
• Design interactions that stay believable across a range of social contexts.
• Collaborate with animators and engineers on the animation each interaction requires.
• Collaborate on tool design and development with the engineering team.
• Explore emerging techniques for interactive character behavior.

Skills

Behavior authoring

Real-time engines

Collaboration

Feedback culture

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

Apple in Cupertino, CA seeks a Character Behavior Designer to craft how a character responds to people and its environment, focusing on expression, responsiveness, and timing to push interactive computing.

You will author complete interactions, drive animation and speech from contextual input, and collaborate with designers, animators, and engineers while exploring new techniques for believable social behavior.