Senior Software Engineer - Animation

Level; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Level, a learning technology company, is seeking a Senior Software Engineer specialized in animation. You will develop systems to bring characters and environments to life, focusing on animation architecture, skeletal animation, and performance optimization. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in real-time animation system development, particularly with C++. Level offers a collaborative environment where you'll work closely with animators and technical artists to achieve compelling digital experiences.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of real-time animation system development.
• Deep C++ experience.
• Experience with skeletal animation, inverse kinematics, and blending.

Responsibilities

• Own animation system architecture and runtime optimization.
• Handle physics-based animation and procedural systems.
• Integrate tools for animation workflows.

Skills

Real-time animation system development

C++

Skeletal animation

Inverse kinematics

Performance optimization

Collaboration with animators

Job description

Level is a learning technology company dedicated to helping students build real academic and life skills with confidence and joy. We combine proven curriculum principles with world‑class interactive design to make meaningful practice something students want to come back to, not something they struggle through.

We support what teachers, schools, and parents are already doing by increasing student engagement with high quality, standards‑aligned practice that reinforces classroom learning. That’s why we’re building:

For students: Rewarding and motivating learning experiences that meet students where they are to build real academic proficiency.

For educators: Tools that fit naturally into instruction and help students stay engaged while reducing teacher workload.

For parents: Activities that help your kid catch up or get ahead, build confidence, and minimize homework battles, whether learning at school or at home.

We are committed to helping every person maximize their potential and live a life of meaning. It’s a difficult problem that requires brilliant people and tremendous effort over time.

Level is looking for a Senior Software Engineer – Animation. You'll build the systems that make characters move with personality, environments react with believability, and players connect emotionally with our digital worlds.

You’ll own:

• Animation system architecture and runtime optimization
• Skeletal animation, blending, and state machines
• Physics‑based animation and procedural systems
• Animation compression and streaming
• Tool integration for animation workflows

What we’re looking for:

• 5+ years of real‑time animation system development
• Deep C++ experience
• Experience with skeletal animation, inverse kinematics, and blending
• Understanding of animation mathematics and interpolation algorithms
• Performance optimization for animation‑heavy scenes
• Collaboration experience with animators and technical artists

Bonus points:

• Godot animation system expertise
• Motion capture integration experience
• Procedural animation techniques
• Physics simulation integration (ragdoll, cloth, etc.)