We are looking for an enthusiastic, player-experience-focused software engineer to join us to work on the character animation features and tools that will elevate the quality of our next game. As an individual contributor on our software engineering team, you will work in close collaboration with the animation team to implement gameplay features and extend the animation capabilities of the Unreal Engine (UE5). This work will include identifying issues, then architecting and implementing solutions to improve workflow, performance, and animation visual quality.
This is a role where you can expect to leverage your software development skills, build strong collaborative relationships with the animation team, and work on challenging problems related to how characters animate and interact with the game environment around them. By helping us improve and extend our animation technology in areas such as full body IK and more situationally aware interaction systems. Working to develop these systems, tools, and workflow, you will be instrumental in creating the compelling moment-to-moment experiences our players love.
At Undead Labs, we work in highly collaborative, cross-discipline teams because we understand that the best ideas are ones we generate together. We are creators of the hit survival-fantasy franchise State of Decay, played by millions, and we operate independently as part of a network of first-party Microsoft studios.
Core Responsibilities and Objectives
- Write and maintain production-quality C++ code focused on character and creature animation systems.
- Collaborate directly with the animation team on workflow and support needs.
- Be the primary point of contact for understanding, diagnosing and optimizing our use of Unreal Engine’s core animation features (character movement, movement modes, character physics, animation blueprints, etc).
- Work collaboratively with your colleagues to prototype, iterate on, and deliver solutions.
- Apply your knowledge, critical thinking skills, unique perspective and ideas to the production of our games.
- Make pragmatic and player-experienced-focused decisions about your work through prototyping, analysis of player feedback and telemetry, and design consultation.
Core Traits and Experience
- Proficient with C++ and familiar with software development methodologies.
- An understanding of character locomotion and control problem sets and potential solutions.
- Familiar with animation content pipelines, tools and terminology.
- Familiar with modern character animation techniques (such as rigging, skeletons, inverse kinematics, motion matching and advanced interaction systems).
- An ability to communicate effectively across disciplines.
- Ideally brings 4+ years of experience in a software engineering role.
Bonus Traits and Experience
- Experience with Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
- Experience with console game development.
- Experience working with animators and technical animators to support and ensure high-quality character animation in all aspects of moment-to-moment gameplay.
Physical Requirements
- Close vision to monitors and screens, consistently working on computer equipment such as keyboards and monitors, long periods of sitting.
- Noise levels are low to moderate in the work environment.
Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Undead Labs is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
We look forward to hearing from you!