Rare is a one-of-a-kind game studio where we create the kind of games the world doesn't have, games that are uniquely Rare! Working here offers opportunities unlike anywhere else. You'll be providing players with unforgettable shared experiences in games loved by millions worldwide. Our pirate adventure Sea of Thieves, launched in 2018, is still going strong – and alongside that we're busy creating our next magical world, Everwild, announced in 2019 to a global audience.
We strive to make Rare an amazing place to work, embracing a culture of respect and building a supportive environment for our developers. Our custom-built Twycross studio is situated in the beautiful English countryside, surrounded by woodland and wildlife, with plenty of room for us to grow. Studio benefits are catered to making life easier for staff, including flexible working, a bonus scheme, an industry-leading pension package, private healthcare, mental health initiatives and free events for employees and their families.
By joining Rare, you'll be joining one of the finest studios in the industry with support from the wider Xbox Game Studios network. We're always on the lookout for exceptional people who can bring their expertise and unique thinking to help make our team even stronger!
Role Purpose
An exciting opportunity has opened in our game team for a Senior Animation Programmer here on Everwild. We are seeking an individual that can take up a key role in character creation, working closely with animators and Gameplay teams, to help bring our unique and iconic creatures to life.
You would be working with big believers in high-quality engineering, who aim for fast iteration with robust methods. We embrace modern development practices such as continuous delivery, automated testing, code reviews, pair programming and agile methods.
As part of our team, we will encourage you to explore and grow your skills, whether through engineering discussions, hosting one of our in-house workshops, or signing up to be part of our Engineering Process Group to help steer how we build games in the future.
If the above sounds like something you are interested in, keep reading…
Responsibilities
- Work closely with animators on character creation to bring them from concept through to delivery and support them in achieving their visual targets.
- Handle a full range of animation technology, such as character movement, player interaction, multi-character interactions, tools, and multiplayer gameplay.
- Profile, optimise and maintain new and existing animation systems to deliver a world at scale.
- Keenness to push the boundaries of what has been achieved in animation, to bring our characters to life.
- Be part of Rare’s culture; Be inquisitive, try things out, break stuff and help people be even better.
Qualifications
Required Skills and Experience
- At least 2 years of professional games experience or equivalent experience that would put you at this level.
- Excellent communication skills, and keenness for empowering others.
- Recent professional experience developing in C++.
- Familiarity with standard approaches in real-time animation, and an enthusiasm for the subject.
Desirable Skills and Experience
- Experience working with Unreal Engine 4.
- A solid grounding in Computer Science theory and C++ development.
- Experience working with multiplayer architectures.
- Practical experience in an animation engineering role desirable but not essential.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.
Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.
Benefits and Perks
- Industry leading healthcare
- Savings and investments
- Giving programs
- Educational resources
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Opportunities to network and connect
- Discounts on products and services
- Generous time away
