Senior Animation Engineer

As a senior animation engineer you will be tasked with animation system functionality goals to realize the vision of a high profile, licensed property in a Third Person Action Adventure currently in prototype development. Particular emphasis will be placed on the animation pipeline, Inverse Kinemtics technology and optimizations. With input from team engineers, artists, designers in an agile development (SCRUM) environment, implement core game technologies within the Unreal 3 engine for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC markets.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with engineers, artists, designers on building cutting animation and IK technology using Unreal Engine 3.
• Work with the content team to ensure proper usage of the animation pipeline.  Provide analysis and optimization solution for performance bottlenecks.
• Provide technical expertise and keep up to date with latest changes in regards to Unreal Engine 3 animation and IK system.
• Keep abreast of latest animation and IK technology and techniques and provide usabiity/feasiblity analysis for the project's animation and IK requirement.
• Participate in the development of core disciplines (gameplay, UI, AI, graphics or multiplayer)
• Contributing innovative and original ideas towards all aspects of game production and development.
• Ability to assist other team members from various departments to complete a level.
• Actively seek review and input from team members
• Assist in writing TDD for the game
• Assist in creating schedule including helping others ensure their schedules are realistic and accurate.
• Create tools, features and engine components as needed with good coding standards.
• Provide documentation and support of implemented features.
• Communicate closely with Engineering Lead and CTO regarding the status of assigned tasks as well as potential pitfalls in the game design.
• Be proactive at fixing issues that are discovered.
• Provide user support in all aspect of the engine and its tools.
• Willingness to assist in all areas of game development.

Requirements

• 4+ years industry experience
• C/C++ proficiency and design skills
• Must be comfortable working within, and enhancing, an established code framework
• Demonstrated knowledge of good software engineering practices.
• Experience working with current animation and IK algorithms.
• Experience making low-level optimizations
• Experience with memory management, multi-threading, cross-platform development and a working knowledge of 3D math
• Ability to rapidly prototype new animation and IK techniques and turn these prototypes into robust, maintainable, shippable systems
• Ability to collaborate with engineers and content creators to develop and maintain robust and cutting-edge technology
• Ability to openly discuss and review technical proposals, requirements, designs, algorithms, source code, and reference documents with engineers, content creators and managers
  Creative, focused, results-oriented, self-motivated, resourceful problem-solver with excellent debugging and strong communications skills
• Highly collaborative approach to development
• Passion for video games and broad knowledge of titles and mechanics
• Ability to provide realistic schedules
• An eye for detail and feel for good gameplay.
• Intermediate knowledge of Engineering software, Visual Studio.net

Desired Skills and Pluses

• Unreal Engine 3 experience or experience in maintaining/extending an existing animation and IK system.
• Designed and implemented (or maintained) a full featured animation and IK system for a published AAA game.
• PC, Xbox360, PS3 development experience.
• Agile development methodologies (SCRUM, RUP, XP, etc.)

• Email only. No visits or phone calls, please.
• The Subject line of your email must reference the job title and your name, like this:
  Senior Animation Engineer: Last name, First name
• Include your resume as an email attachment, preferably in Word format.
• Make sure your resume also includes your name, address, phone, and email.
• Send email to resume9eng@sparkunlimited.com

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