We’re working with a well-funded and top-rated VR game studio to help them hire a Animation Game Engineer Lead to architect and evolve their animation systems across character gameplay, social features, and AI-driven interactions.
This is a hands-on role focused on building, tuning, and scaling animation systems that feel great in fast-paced, physics-based multiplayer experiences. You'll collaborate closely with engineers and design leadership to deliver responsive, high-fidelity character motion—and take full ownership of the animation engineering domain as the studio grows.
What You'll Do
* Architect and implement core animation systems (animation graphs, IK layers, state machines, blending logic)
* Improve and refine inverse kinematics (IK) systems for lifelike character movement
* Integrate animation with gameplay systems, AI bots, and player interactions in real-time
* Own the quality bar for responsiveness, realism, and performance in animation systems
* Collaborate with cross-functional team members to deliver new features and elevate animation fidelity
* Contribute to long-term planning of animation tools and pipelines
What We’re Looking For
* Experience with Unity, Unreal, or a custom game engine
* Demonstrated experience building and integrating animation systems in a shipped game
* Strong understanding of inverse kinematics (IK), animation blending, and procedural motion
* Deep technical proficiency in C#, C++, or equivalent—hands-on and systems-oriented
* Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-moving environment
* Strong attention to animation polish and gameplay feel
Nice-to-Have:
* Background in physics-driven or sports gameplay systems
* Familiarity with animation tooling, rigging pipelines, or runtime optimization for real-time games
* VR experience