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Lead Tools Programmer (Narrative Adventure)

A visionary game development studio founded in 2012, Firesprite builds innovative showcase titles for PlayStation platforms as part of the PlayStation Studios family.

Would you enjoy the freedom to create AAA games working from anywhere in the UK, including our Liverpool studio?

We are looking for a Lead Tools Programmer to join the code team on a dark, story-driven next generation 'Narrative Adventure' with genre defining goals

This huge, highly ambitious partnership project takes atmosphere, storytelling, player agency and narrative firmly into ground-breaking territory on next-generation hardware technologies.

This project has AAA ambitions with a heavy focus on art, animation and delivering unique character performances to heighten player presence and immersion to new levels.

As a Lead Tools Programmer, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining the tools used by technical artists, technical designers, sound designers, writers, designers and artists. You will be working on next gen platforms and in areas such as but not limited to – Animation, Rendering, 3D software pipelines, In-Editor tools, Motion Capture pipelines, Cameras, Cinematics, Sequencers, etc. We expect the Lead Tools Programmer to manage and mentor the tools programming team and to take full ownership of the tools created. Reporting to the Technical Director, you will be able to accurately plan, prioritise and develop a suite of tools for multiple disciplines to facilitate the smooth production of the project.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with your Team members to prototype, implement, iterate and polish new and existing development tools and associated systems.
• Ensure your team produce robust, efficient, clear and maintainable code, while striving to reduce technical debt across the project.
• Respond to design feedback to create tools that help meet the creative vision of the game.
• Provide constructive input to, and feedback on, potential new tools during the initial design, prototyping, iteration and polish stages.
• Be a point of contact for other Programming Leads coders for the Tools your team create and maintain.
• Take responsibility for, and ownership of even the thornier elements of shipping a game, such as debugging awkward crashes, profiling and optimising code, and performing diligent testing of changes
• Mentor more junior programmers.
• Oversee the complete design, implementation and delivery of one or multiple tools by your team.

Requirements

• Excellent knowledge of, and experience of programming in C++, C# and Python
• Learning specific areas of and debugging issues in large and complex C++, C# and Python based codebases, that utilise custom tools and engines.
• Experience profiling and optimising CPU performance of real-time oriented systems.
• Strong software engineering knowledge, such as OOP, design patterns & API development.
• High confidence working with 3D maths, vectors, matrices, linear algebra.
• The ability to write and optimise solid, robust and maintainable Tools that respects agreed development guidelines.
• At least 6 years relatable experience in a similar role, ideally with experience of working with, and a passion for, developing tools concerning narrative, action or adventure games.

Additional or Desired Skills:

• An intuition for, and interest in, ‘development tools.
• Approachable, with a proactive attitude towards cross discipline communication.
• A willingness and desire to learn, adapt and work outside of your comfort zone.
• Self-motivated, and able to self-manage and prioritise own workload.
• Experienced with Unreal Engine is a plus.
• Experienced with Console development is a plus.
• Experienced with Maya is a plus.
• Experienced with Motion Builder is a plus.
• Experienced with Houdini is a plus.

Benefits

• Private Healthcare Plan
• Bonus Scheme
• Enhanced Holiday Allowance
• Pension Plans
• Work remotely within the UK
• Training & Development
• Employee Assistance Programme - Counselling

Firesprite is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We welcome and encourage applications from all suitable applicants regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.