Senior Animation Systems Programmer

2 Months ago • 4-8 Years • Animation • $121,400 PA - $161,800 PA

Job Summary

Job Description

Rockstar Games seeks a Senior Animation Systems Programmer to join their Animation R&D team in NYC. This role involves developing advanced animation systems for large, open-world, character-based games. Responsibilities include developing, maintaining, and extending the animation system, pipeline, and tools; implementing new features; collaborating with various teams (animation, gameplay, physics, graphics, technical art, and tools); and staying abreast of industry advancements. The ideal candidate possesses strong C++ skills, experience with character animation systems in AAA game development, and a passion for realistic character motion.
Must have:
  • Strong C/C++ programming skills
  • AAA game development experience
  • Character animation system expertise
  • 3D math skills
  • Collaboration & communication
Good to have:
  • C# or Python programming skills
  • Game engine animation system experience
  • Pipeline/UI tool development
  • Physics or gameplay system experience
  • Multithreaded C++ code optimization

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 Senior Animation Systems Programmer to join the Animation R&D team. This position will help us in developing advanced animation systems for large open world character-based games. We are looking for a candidate with 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, in-office position based out of Rockstar’s NYC headquarters in Downtown Manhattan. 

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 performance capture, technical art, animation, physics, and gameplay teams across multiple Rockstar studios.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Join our core animation technology team and work closely with animation, gameplay, physics, graphics, technical art, and tools teams across different Rockstar studios.
  • Develop, maintain, extend, and support an extensive high-level animation system, pipeline, and tools.
  • Implement well designed, robust, highly optimal new animation features, integrating them into our existing animation, gameplay, physics, and graphics systems.
  • 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 related discipline.
  • Industry experience working on AAA character based games, or character based VFX animation.
  • Experience developing within a large existing codebase, collaborating or working independently within a large team.

SKILLS

  • Strong C/C++ programming skills.
  • Familiarity with common optimization and multi-threading techniques.
  • Good communication skills, ability to clearly share complex technical information with other programmers, animators and technical artists.
  • Strong 3D math skills.

PLUSES

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

  • C# or python programming skills.
  • Experience creating, extending or working directly with an animation system within a game engine.
  • Involvement with pipeline or UI based tools development or support.
  • Experience creating or working directly with physics or gameplay systems.
  • Practical success optimizing or debugging large/complex multithreaded C++ code.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a resume 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.                                   

** For those based in Toronto, Rockstar will provide accommodations to job applicants and employees as long as such accommodations do not pose an undue hardship on Rockstar, and consistent with its obligations under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

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

The pay range for this position in New York State (inclusive of New York City) at the start of employment is expected to be between the range below* per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

 

*NY Base Pay Range

$121,400 - $161,800 USD

Similar Jobs

Google - Senior Staff Data Scientist Manager, Research

Google

Sunnyvale, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Days ago
Playrix - Lead SDET

Playrix

Georgia (Remote)
6 Months ago
Google - Data Scientist III, Product, Google Play

Google

Mountain View, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Days ago
Unity - Senior Software Engineer

Unity

Tokyo, Japan (On-Site)
8 Hours ago
Meta - Production Engineer

Meta

Sunnyvale, California, United States (Remote)
5 Months ago
DNEG - Production Coordinator (DNEG Animation)

DNEG

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
4 Months ago
Epic Games - Senior Animator

Epic Games

Cary, North Carolina, United States (On-Site)
3 Months ago
Firesprite - Principal Gameplay Animator

Firesprite

Liverpool, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Nexters - Senior 2D Animator

Nexters

Almaty, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan (Remote)
2 Weeks ago
Amber - 3D Animator (Project Based)

Amber

(Remote)
1 Month ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Similar Skill Jobs

Playdawn Consulting - Full Stack Developer (Unity/Golang)

Playdawn Consulting

Bengaluru, Karnataka, India (On-Site)
1 Day ago
Google - Senior Product Manager, External Access Lead, Quantum AI

Google

Goleta, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Days ago
Epic Games - Physics Programmer

Epic Games

(On-Site)
3 Days ago
Playrix - Lead C++ Software Engineer (Gameplay)

Playrix

Ukraine (Remote)
6 Months ago
Ubisoft - Game Designer

Ubisoft

Pune, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
2 Months ago
Scopely - Senior Fullstack Engineer - Monopoly GO!

Scopely

California, United States (Remote)
1 Month ago
Limit Break - Unity UI Engineer

Limit Break

(Remote)
3 Weeks ago
Google - Software Engineer, Pixel Sensor, Platforms and Devices

Google

New Taipei, New Taipei City, Taiwan (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
Rockstar Games - Animation Systems Programmer

Rockstar Games

Oakville, Ontario, Canada (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Activision - Expert Character Artist

Activision

(Hybrid)
1 Month ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Jobs in New York, New York, United States

Google - Software Engineer III, Site Reliability Engineering

Google

San Francisco, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
Google - Customer Engineering Manager, Ad Tech, Google Cloud

Google

New York, New York, United States (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
Google - Staff Conversation Designer, Commerce

Google

Mountain View, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
Netflix - Business Partner, Finance Procurement Operations

Netflix

Los Gatos, California, United States (On-Site)
1 Week ago
PlayStation Global - Senior Director, Program Management - Product Development Lifecycle

PlayStation Global

California, United States (On-Site)
3 Weeks ago
Fluence - Lead Network and Communications Engineer

Fluence

Houston, Texas, United States (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Life church - Life.Church Campus Internship

Life church

United States (On-Site)
6 Months ago
Gearbox Software - Level Artist

Gearbox Software

Frisco, Texas, United States (On-Site)
4 Months ago
Interface AI - Senior Account Manager

Interface AI

United States (Remote)
2 Months ago
ByteDance - Algorithm Engineer - Enterprise Solution RD

ByteDance

San Jose, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Animation Jobs

PlayStation Global - Principal Gameplay Animator

PlayStation Global

Liverpool, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Sony Pictures Animation - Background Artist

Sony Pictures Animation

Los Angeles, California, United States (On-Site)
1 Month ago
M2 Animation - 3D Animator

M2 Animation

Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand (On-Site)
3 Days ago
Rockstar Games - Animation Systems Programmer

Rockstar Games

Carlsbad, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Months ago
Framestore - Creature FX TD - Launchpad Internship 2025

Framestore

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Framestore - CREATURE FX TD

Framestore

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
11 Months ago
Ubisoft - Machine Learning Programmer (Characters & Animation) - Rainbow Six

Ubisoft

Montreal, Quebec, Canada (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Sperasoft - 3D Animator

Sperasoft

Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Epic Games - Senior Technical Animator

Epic Games

Montreal, Quebec, Canada (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
The Walt Disney Company - Technical Assistant

The Walt Disney Company

London, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
2 Months ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

About The Company

Join a tight-knit team responsible for creating and publishing some of the most popular, innovative and critically acclaimed interactive entertainment in the world including the Grand Theft Auto series, the Red Dead series and many more.


Known for our dedication to quality and authenticity, a career at Rockstar Games is an opportunity to work on some of the most cutting edge, creatively rewarding and challenging projects available in any entertainment medium with some of the most talented people in the industry.


We offer successful candidates highly competitive salary and compensation packages, including a comprehensive benefits package for all eligible employees. Rockstar Games is an equal opportunity employer.

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

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

Oakville, Ontario, Canada (On-Site)

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Leeds, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Leeds, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Edinburgh, 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