Animation R&D Programmer: Retargeting (Mid / Senior Level)

2 Months ago • All levels • Animation

Job Summary

Job Description

Rockstar Games is looking for a talented engineer to join their Animation R&D team. The role involves developing advanced animation systems for large open-world character-based games. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining an extensive runtime animation system, developing technology for animation adaptation, and contributing to the research and development of procedural animation and motion synthesis. The role requires strong C++ skills and knowledge of character animation, with a focus on animation retargeting and related techniques.
Must have:
  • Strong C++ programming skills.
  • Knowledge of character animation technology, particularly retargeting and IK systems.
  • Good communication skills.
  • Strong 3D math skills.
Good to have:
  • Industry experience working on AAA character based games.
  • C# or python programming skills.
  • Experience developing within a large existing codebase.
  • Experience with motion synthesis or style transfer.

Job Details

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences. 

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry. 

Rockstar is on the lookout for a talented engineer to join our Animation R&D team, with a background in animation retargeting or related techniques.

This position will help us develop advanced animation systems for our large open world character-based games. The successful applicant will have strong C++ programming skills, good knowledge of and interest in character animation systems, and passion for realistic, high quality character motion.

This is a full-time, permanent and in-office position based in Rockstar’s state-of-the-art game development studio in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

WHAT WE DO

  • We develop animation technology, from performance capture to a sophisticated runtime engine, for massive open world games.
  • We are a global team of programmers and researchers who collaborate on pushing the boundaries of character animation on next generation hardware.
  • We support and work closely with animation, gameplay, physics, tools, graphics, performance capture, and technical art teams across multiple Rockstar studios.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Help invent, develop, expand, maintain, and support an extensive runtime animation system, pipeline, and tools.
  • Develop robust and performant technology to adjust animation to different characters, situations, and environments.
  • Collaborate and contribute to the research and development of features related to procedural animation, motion adaptation, and character motion synthesis.
  • Keep up to date with the latest academic and industry breakthroughs, independently research and develop improvements to continuously push our technology forward.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • A degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
  • Proven development of solutions in animation retargeting, motion adaptation, or related subjects.
  • Experience creating, extending or working directly with an animation system within a game engine.

SKILLS

  • Good communication skills, ability to clearly share complex technical information with other programmers, animators and technical artists.
  • Strong C/C++ programming skills.
  • Strong 3D math skills.
  • Knowledge of character animation technology, particularly retargeting and IK systems.
  • Familiarity with common optimization and multi-threading techniques.

PLUSES

Please note that these are desirable skills and are not required to apply for the position.

  • Industry experience working on AAA character based games, or character based VFX animation.
  • C# or python programming skills.
  • Experience developing within a large existing codebase, collaborating, or working independently within a large team.
  • Experience with motion synthesis or style transfer.
  • Practical success optimizing or debugging large/complex multithreaded C++ code.
  • Involvement with pipeline or UI based tools development or support.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a CV and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect. In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process in order for such applicants to be considered for the position for which they are applying, as well as to qualified employees to enable them to perform the essential functions of their roles. If you need more information about Rockstar’s reasonable accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department. 

If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.

#LI-AN1

Similar Jobs

Barnstorm VFX - Compositor MID/SR: Vancouver

Barnstorm VFX

British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid)
6 Months ago
magic media games - Senior 3D Character Artist

magic media games

(Remote)
2 Months ago
Epic Games - Senior Cinematic FX Artist

Epic Games

(On-Site)
4 Months ago
Larian Studios - GRAPHICS PROGRAMMER

Larian Studios

Quebec, Canada (On-Site)
7 Months ago
Epic Games - Senior Technical Artist

Epic Games

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
3 Months ago
CD PROJEKT RED - Lead Technical Animator

CD PROJEKT RED

Boston, Massachusetts, United States (On-Site)
2 Months ago
Kojima - Facial Animator

Kojima

Minato City, Tokyo, Japan (On-Site)
2 Months ago
Gunzilla - Senior Technical Animator

Gunzilla

Frankfurt Am Main, Hessen, Germany (On-Site)
3 Months ago
fable vison studios - Animation Imagination Podcast Launches by FableVision Summer Interns

fable vison studios

Boston, Massachusetts, United States (On-Site)
3 Years ago
lucas films - Animator

lucas films

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
3 Weeks ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Similar Skill Jobs

Game District - Lead 3D Generalist

Game District

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan (On-Site)
6 Days ago
UPF Industries  - Senior Animator

UPF Industries

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
undefined - Animator

Gurugram, Haryana, India (On-Site)
1 Year ago
1920 VFX - Freelance Senior Generalist for Episodic

1920 VFX

London, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
After zvfx studios - FX Artist

After zvfx studios

Kolkata, West Bengal, India (On-Site)
1 Year ago
Scopely - Senior Motion Graphics Designer

Scopely

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (Hybrid)
7 Months ago
Argus - Motion Designer

Argus

Jakarta, Indonesia (Remote)
3 Weeks ago
frames store - Associate Visual Effects  Supervisor

frames store

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
8 Months ago
Phantom FX - Compositing Artist

Phantom FX

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Riot Games - Staff Software Engineer (Graphics)

Riot Games

Los Angeles, California, United States (On-Site)
3 Months ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Jobs in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Banyan Software - Portfolio Finance Manager

Banyan Software

London, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
2 Months ago
d3t - Graduate Programmer

d3t

United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Spaulding Ridge - Anaplan Analyst

Spaulding Ridge

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
2 Months ago
Zoe - Technical Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) Specialist

Zoe

United Kingdom (Remote)
2 Weeks ago
Square - Cost Manager - Healthcare

Square

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
Cloud Imperium Games - Principal Network Programmer

Cloud Imperium Games

Manchester, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
8 Months ago
Rockstar Games - Senior UI Programmer (C++)

Rockstar Games

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)
10 Months ago
160over90 - Account Manager, PR & Comms

160over90

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Year ago
Testronic - LQA Game Tester with Hindi

Testronic

United Kingdom (Remote)
4 Weeks ago
Cloud Imperium Games - Senior Level Designer

Cloud Imperium Games

Manchester, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
2 Months ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Animation Jobs

Maverick Games - Technical Animator

Maverick Games

Warwick, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
5 Months ago
Scanline VFX - Lead Animator

Scanline VFX

Seoul, South Korea (Hybrid)
2 Years ago
Paper games - Combat 3C Animator - Infinity Nikki (2026 Autumn Campus Recruitment)

Paper games

Shanghai, China (On-Site)
1 Week ago
gym class vr  - Unity Animation Engineer Lead

gym class vr

Los Angeles, California, United States (Remote)
3 Months ago
Quantic Dream - Associate Animation Director

Quantic Dream

Paris, Île-de-France, France (Hybrid)
4 Months ago
video reality - Internship Animation Artist

video reality

Frankfurt Am Main, Hessen, Germany (On-Site)
4 Weeks ago
flying wild hog - Senior/Principal Gameplay Animator

flying wild hog

(Remote)
1 Year ago
creative assembly - Lead / Principal Animation Programmer

creative assembly

Horsham, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
2 Months ago
Riot Games - Lead Animator

Riot Games

Los Angeles, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Months ago
Qingci Games - Animator

Qingci Games

Xiamen, Fujian, China (On-Site)
3 Months ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

About The Company

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Leeds, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

New York, New York, United States (On-Site)

Oakville, Ontario, Canada (On-Site)

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

View All Jobs

Get notified when new jobs are added by Rockstar Games

Level Up Your Career in Game Development!

Transform Your Passion into Profession with Our Comprehensive Courses for Aspiring Game Developers.

Job Common Plug