2K - Principal Technical Animator

Brighton, England, United Kingdom1w ago

In Office Principal EMEA Artificial Intelligence Principal Animator C++Python

Requirements

• Master-level expertise in Unreal Engine’s animation suite (Anim Blueprints, Motion Matching, Control Rig, State Machines, and Sequencer). • Master-level expertise • Deep technical understanding of low-level animation concepts, including runtime optimisation, memory management, and threading for animation. • Deep technical understanding • Exceptional cross-discipline communication skills, with a proven track record of aligning Art, Design, and Engineering directors on complex technical visions. • Exceptional cross-discipline communication skills • Expertise in feature breakdown and scoping, with the ability to translate abstract creative pillars into robust, production-ready plans.. • Expertise in feature breakdown • A profound understanding of gameplay mechanics, game feel, and the mathematical principles behind smooth character movement and physics. • A profound understanding of gameplay mechanics • A portfolio or reel demonstrating a history of solving highly complex, innovative technical animation challenges in shipped titles. • A portfolio or reel • Highly Desirable • Highly Desirable • Strong proficiency in C++ for extending Unreal Engine’s animation system, alongside Python for pipeline tool automation. • Strong proficiency in C++ • Experience contributing to proprietary engine tools or custom modifications to Unreal's core animation code. • Experience contributing to proprietary engine tools • Production experience with advanced DCC tools, including Maya API, MotionBuilder, or Houdini for runtime or pipeline integration. • Production experience with advanced DCC tools • Background in traditional animation or motion capture data manipulation to better bridge the gap between art and code. • Background in traditional animation or motion capture • Hangar 13 prides itself on the diversity of its team members, partners, and communities. For this reason, we remain committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment and hiring through compensation, benefits, discipline and termination.

Responsibilities

• Architect and oversee the high-level design of gameplay animation systems, ensuring scalability, performance, and seamless integration across complex real-time systems. • Architect and oversee • Drive R&D initiatives to evaluate and implement cutting-edge animation technologies (e.g., advanced Motion Matching, machine learning/AI animation, next-gen physics). • Drive R&D initiatives • Partner with Engineering and Tech Animation leadership to implement project-wide animation roadmaps and toolsets. • Partner with Engineering and Tech Animation leadership • Solve deep, complex runtime bugs and drive animation optimisation efforts to meet strict performance and memory budgets. • Solve deep, complex runtime bugs • Define and document technical standards, best practices, and pipeline workflows for the wider technical animation team. • Define and document • Collaborate closely with Design and Animation leads to heavily iterate on and perfect 3C mechanics (character, camera, controls), maximizing game feel. • Collaborate closely with Design and Animation leads • Actively mentor and upskill senior and mid-level technical animators through code/blueprint reviews and hands-on guidance. • Actively mentor and upskill • Essential Skills, Attributes and Experience • Extensive proven experience architecting and integrating gameplay animation systems for AAA titles using Unreal Engine.