We are excited to invite a motivated and skilled Animation Programmer to our innovative team, where you’ll play a pivotal role in crafting the next generation of immersive virtual reality experiences. Your expertise will be instrumental in developing and fine-tuning animation systems that breathe life into our characters and environments. This is a unique chance to engage in groundbreaking projects within a collaborative, visionary setting, where your efforts will have a direct influence on the quality and immersion of our games.

In this dynamic position, you will work hand-in-hand with animators and gameplay programmers to design, implement, and maintain sophisticated animation systems and tools. Collaborating closely with our design and art teams, you’ll ensure that animations are not only responsive and fluid but also push the boundaries of procedural animation, inverse kinematics (IK) systems, and runtime rigging technologies.

Position Details:

• 12-month fixed-term contract
• Full-time hours (37.5 per week)
• Fully remote role within the UK
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and upkeep of core animation systems tailored for VR gameplay.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of animations.
• Prototype and refine animation features and technologies.
• Diagnose and resolve animation-related issues.
• Engage in creating and maintaining technical documentation related to animation.
• Uphold high standards for code quality and maintainability.
• Coordinate with QA and production teams to meet quality benchmarks and deadlines.
• Stay informed of the latest tools and techniques to enhance animation workflows.

Essential Skills:

• Proficient in C++ programming with experience in game engine animation systems.
• Solid understanding of animation principles and their real-time application.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine, particularly Animation Blueprints and Control Rig.
• Knowledge of VR development and performance considerations.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and excellent communication skills.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience with procedural or physics-driven animation systems.
• Interest in motion matching or machine learning applications in animation.
• Involvement in a commercial game that has been successfully shipped.
• Knowledge of animation middleware (e.g., Havok, HumanIK).

About nDreams:
At nDreams, we pride ourselves on creating and publishing some of the most immersive VR games globally. You might recognize us from titles like Synapse, Phantom: Covert Ops, Fracked, and Frenzies. As a publisher, we have also played a part in the successful launch of other studios’ projects, such as Little Cities, PowerWash Simulator VR, and Vendetta Forever. From our humble beginnings as an independent studio, we combine our passion for amazing projects with a personal and caring approach. Expect exciting announcements about our upcoming titles!

Our Commitment:
We believe that the most successful workplaces and games are built by diverse, happy, and secure teams. We are dedicated to fostering a culture rooted in respect, well-being, and balance. Making our games and industry more accessible to underrepresented communities is essential to us, and we reflect this commitment through our hiring practices, the experiences we create, and the causes we champion.

We welcome everyone to express their true selves at work. If you require reasonable adjustments during the interview process, please reach out to your nDreams recruiter. For more details about reasonable adjustments, please refer to the guidance from Scope.

Perks and Benefits:
We provide a range of fantastic perks, including flexible working hours, duvet days, a day off for your birthday, dedicated personal development time and resources, regular social events, as well as a robust holiday package, pension scheme, health insurance, life cover, and more.