Senior Animation Programmer

We are looking for a Senior Animation Programmer to join our engineering team and help build the systems that bring our characters and worlds to life. You will design implement and optimize animation technology within Unreal Engine working closely with animators designers and gameplay programmers to deliver responsive high-fidelity character movement and combat/interaction systems. This is a senior hands-on role with significant influence over technical direction tooling and mentorship of junior engineers.
 

What it means on a daily basis

• Design build and maintain animation systems using Unreal Engines Animation Blueprint Control Rig and Animation Framework.
• Develop and optimize character locomotion state machines blend spaces IK solvers and procedural animation systems.
• Collaborate closely with animators and technical artists to build robust artist-friendly tools and rigs.
• Partner with gameplay programmers to integrate animation-driven systems with combat traversal and physics.
• Profile and optimize animation performance across target platforms (consoles PC).
• Debug and resolve complex animation and synchronization issues.
• Contribute to technical design documents and provide input on engine architecture decisions.
• Mentor junior and mid-level programmers and champion best practices in animation programming.
• Stay current with advances in animation technology (e.g. motion matching ML-driven animation) and evaluate their applicability.

What success will look like

Success in this role means delivering robust high-quality animation systems that make characters feel responsive believable and engaging while meeting the performance demands of the game. Youll take ownership of animation features from concept through to implementation and optimisation work closely with animators designers technical artists and gameplay programmers and help establish effective tools and workflows for the wider team. As a senior member of the engineering team youll also contribute to technical direction solve complex animation challenges share your expertise and mentor other programmers while helping push the quality and capabilities of the studios animation technology.
 

Your Recruitment Journey

• First stage: A qualification call with the recruitment team
• Second stage: Interview with the Studio Technical Director Lead Engineer
• Third stage: TBC
   

Qualifications :

What you need to succeed

• 5 years of professional experience in games programming with a strong focus on animation systems.
• Proven shipped experience with Unreal Engine (UE4 and/or UE5) including Animation Blueprints Control Rig and the Skeletal Mesh pipeline.
• Strong proficiency in C; solid understanding of Blueprint scripting for prototyping and tools.
• Deep understanding of animation fundamentals: blending layering additive animation IK root motion and state machines.
• Experience optimizing animation performance and memory for real-time multi-platform titles.
• Strong collaboration skills and experience working directly with animators and technical artists.
• Solid understanding of 3D math (quaternions matrices vectors) as applied to skeletal animation.
• Excellent debugging profiling and problem-solving skills.
   

Desirables

• Experience with motion matching procedural animation or physics-based animation (e.g. ragdoll active ragdoll).
• Experience with networked/replicated animation systems in multiplayer titles.
• Familiarity with animation compression techniques and custom animation runtime pipelines.
• Experience building custom in-engine tools or editor plugins for animation workflows.
• Background in engine-level or middleware animation system development.
• Experience with console platform certification requirements (PlayStation Xbox Switch).
• Prior experience mentoring or leading a small team of engineers.

Key Compentencies

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to balance visual quality and performance.
• Excellent communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.
• Passion for high-quality visuals and technical innovation.
• Proactive ownership of features from concept to ship.

Additional Information :

Whats in it for you

Perks & benefits:

• A flexible work model that supports worklife balance
• Subsidised car parking
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities to support career growth
• An employee referral program with generous bonuses
• Private health insurance and fitness subsidies
• Access to employee mental health and wellbeing support
• Paid parental leave
• Childcare assistance
• A dedicated relaxation space including a massage chair
• Additional paid leave including: Birthday leave Christmas shutdown leave Volunteer leave Womens health leave
• Free coffee from a commercial espresso machine plus daily snacks and a light breakfast
• Friday social drinks with friendly game tournaments
• A stunning rooftop terrace with river views and a games room
• Exclusive Gameloft-branded merchandise

Life at Gameloft 

Gameloft Brisbane part of the global Gameloft family opened its doors in 2014 and has since delivered hit titles such as Zombie Anarchy Ballistic Baseball My Little Pony: Mane Merge the multi-award-winning The Oregon Trail and Carmen Sandiego.

Today we are the largest video game studio in Queensland employing more than 130 talented professionals across programming art design production QA audio marketing administration and management. Together we create immersive gaming experiences enjoyed by millions of players around the world.

We are proud to be developing Blueys Happy Snaps bringing one of Australias most iconic IPs to life in a brand-new interactive experience. As we continue to grow were also working on a range of exciting unannounced projects that will help shape the future of our studio.

At Gameloft Brisbane people are at the heart of everything we do. Our studio fosters a collaborative creative and inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to contribute learn and grow. We are proud to be Great Place to Work Certified for recognising our strong culture inclusive practices and ongoing commitment to employee well-being.

Employee well-being is a top priority supported by flexible work arrangements wellness initiatives career development opportunities and world-class facilities. We actively invest in our peoples growth through mentorship training programs industry events and speaking opportunities that encourage everyone to develop their skills and make an impact.

As pioneers in Brisbanes game development industry we continue to push the boundaries of cross-platform game development while creating unforgettable experiences for players around the world. Whether youre an experienced professional or just starting your career youll find a supportive environment where creativity collaboration and innovation thrive.

Gameloft Brisbane is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity within our work environment.

Driven by a strong studio culture and a passion for creating meaningful experiences we build games that resonate with players around the world.

Ready to level up your career and join the team Apply now with your CV in English.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time