Senior Animation Engineer at 2K
About the role
As a Senior Animation Engineer at 2K, you will be instrumental in upholding the highest standards of code quality while showcasing a deep passion for character animation and the technologies that support it. This role encompasses the oversight of our primary animation systems, tools, and workflows, necessitating close collaboration with animators, character artists, technical artists, designers, and engineers to produce realistic animations for our gaming projects.
Key facts
Location: Brighton (preferred), Brno, Prague
Engagement: Permanent
Team: Engineering
What you'll do
Work within Unreal Engine 5 to enhance existing animation systems and innovate new technologies that meet both the technical and creative demands of our projects.
Design and execute animation features and runtime systems, which include animation graphs, state machines, blending, and layering techniques.
Develop and maintain animation tools and workflows that boost the productivity of animators and technical artists.
Collaborate effectively with animation, art, design, and engineering teams to fulfill creative objectives.
Contribute to project planning by estimating timelines and identifying dependencies for the development of animation features.
Identify technical challenges and potential risks in development, proposing effective solutions to mitigate them.
Keep abreast of the latest coding techniques and algorithms relevant to animation and the gaming industry at large.
Mentor junior engineers and provide guidance on best practices in animation development.




Participate in code reviews to ensure adherence to coding standards and quality assurance.
Engage in troubleshooting and debugging to resolve animation-related issues efficiently.
Document processes and systems thoroughly to facilitate knowledge sharing within the team.
Collaborate with QA teams to ensure animations meet performance and quality benchmarks.
Requirements
Demonstrated programming experience in a creative environment, showcasing your ability to blend technical skills with artistic vision.
Proven track record of shipping one or more AAA game titles, with a preference for experience using Unreal Engine.
Advanced proficiency in C++, along with a strong grasp of linear algebra and 3D mathematics, coupled with a solid understanding of Object-Oriented Programming principles.
Extensive hands-on experience with Unreal Engine, including Blueprints and animation concepts such as Animation Blueprints, state machines, blend spaces, and linked layers.
Practical knowledge of animation techniques, including inverse kinematics, ragdoll and physics-based animation, procedural animation, keyframe animation, and forward kinematics.
Robust commitment to maintaining high code quality and comprehensive documentation,



with a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and codebases.
Ability to work independently and efficiently under tight deadlines while managing multiple tasks.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, enabling effective interaction with multidisciplinary teams.
Nice to have
Familiarity with machine learning-based animation techniques, including motion matching and learned pose generation.
Experience with Control Rig, IK Rig, and Motion Warping functionalities.
Knowledge of emerging features such as Mass locomotion, Mover, or UAF/AnimNext.
Understanding of Data-Oriented design principles and their application in animation.
Experience developing for next-generation consoles like Xbox Series X/S and PS5.
Skills & tools
Proficient in C++ and Unreal Engine 5.
Strong understanding of animation systems and workflows.
Familiarity with version control systems, particularly Git.
Experience with debugging tools and performance profiling.
Knowledge of agile development methodologies and project management tools.
Practical notes
2K is dedicated to creating a diverse workforce and ensuring equal employment opportunities in all facets of the employment relationship. We strive to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application process and during employment. If you require assistance, please contact us.
Please note that 2K does not utilize instant messaging applications for communication with potential candidates.
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📌 Senior Animation Engineer (Melbourne)
🏢 2K
📍 Melbourne