This job might no longer be available.
Lead Animation Programmer
1 year ago
The Lead Animation Programmer is responsible for ensuring the delivery of animation systems for use by other game teams (primarily Cinematics, Animation and Scripting). The Lead Animation Programmer position will report to the Gameplay Technical Director.
The role is also responsible for line management of the Animation Programming team as well as scheduling, prioritising tasks and mentoring of more junior staff. They must provide technical leadership and be able to strike a balance between the immediate and long term needs of the project. Their job will require them to be flexible and adaptable, able to help solve problems that touch multiple disciplines.
Responsibilities
- Ensure delivery of high quality animation systems by the team.
- Prioritise, plan and manage the work of the team with minimal oversight.
- Help define the technical direction and develop innovative solutions for difficult animation problems.
- Line manage members of the Animation Programming team, and communicate clearly with other team members easily.
- Help educate and support other teams to correctly and efficiently use animation systems.
- Communicate with external companies and contractors with assistance.
- Able to tune animation systems based on high level design input with minimal assistance.
- Use appropriate data structures and algorithms to maximize efficiency (for both development time and runtime performance).
- Be vigilant for and resolve new problems, delays and risks to delivery of the team’s objectives
- Seek support from higher levels management when required.
Requirements
- Exceptional communication skills, comfortable working across teams and mentoring staff.
- Capable of reading and quickly understanding complex code.
- Able to plan the work of the team including external dependencies with minimal input.
- Experience managing a team of programmers.
- Strong C++ programming and debugging skills.
- Excellent practical understanding of animation concepts.
- Understanding of the performance trade-offs for animation systems.
- Experience with graph-based animation systems.
- Extensive algorithm and data structure skills (including time and space complexity and real- world vs theoretical performance).
- Able to tune animation systems based on high level design input with minimal assistance.
- Able to understand and utilize multi-threading primitives & high level networking concepts.
- Self-motivated and driven to creatively solve problems.
- Videogame programming experience on animation systems, including having shipped at least one AAA PC/console title.
- Bachelor’s degree with a Computer Science/Software Engineering focus or equivalent experience.
Our Global Benefits & Perks
- Unlimited coaching & therapy — with Oliva, to support your mental health
- £500 annual Learning Budget — to spend on Learnerbly
- Stock Options — everyone owns a piece of our success
- Compassionate Leave — regardless of who it is, whether you’ve miscarried, or a lost a pet, you don’t need to tell us why
- Birthday Present — £150 voucher or a charity donation
- Birthday Day off — to celebrate your birthday away from work each year
- Caregiver Leave — up to 5 days each year to support your loved ones
- New baby gift — £250 toward a meal delivery or cleaning service
- Remote Working Budget – for remote workers to get out of the house
- Pension scheme — to finance those golden years
- Socials —office & remote events, play sessions and company-wide parties
- And even more benefits based on your location!
If you’re based in the UK
- 29 Annual Leave + 3 bank holidays - we’re flexible with most bank holidays so you can use the time to celebrate what’s important to you
- Long Service Days - 2 extra days added on your 2nd & 4th anniversaries with us.
- Private Medical Insurance - full cover with AXA
- Healthcare Cash Plan - Level 3 cover with Medicash
- Enhanced Family Leave - Primary caregivers; 13 weeks full pay, 13 weeks half pay, Secondary caregivers; 2 weeks full pay
- Cycle2Work Scheme - lease a bike through us and save on tax too!
- Electric Car Charging - electric car charging at our Port office in Edinburgh, Scotland.
About us
Build A Rocket Boy is developing EVERYWHERE; an experience with a breadth of unimaginable gameplay adventure.
We are a mix of industry leading veterans whose credits include some of the best selling and most loved games of all time. We’re a creative digital entertainment studio with an open and progressive methodology, dedicated to delivering games of the highest calibre possible.If you want to feel comfortable, inspired, and appreciated in your work pursuits then come join us. We have offices in Edinburgh and Budapest and are happy to sponsor your relocation to one of these cities.
If you want to feel comfortable, inspired, and appreciated in your work pursuits then come join us. We have offices in Edinburgh, Budapest and consider WFH candidates.
Create Your Profile — Game companies can contact you with their relevant job openings.