Animation Programmer – Dark Fantasy ARPG

About the Role

As an Animation Programmer at Kiagu Studios, you will play a pivotal role in bringing characters to life in our dark fantasy Action-RPG for both PC and mobile platforms. This role is essential for ensuring that characters not only move but express emotions and reactions through dynamic animations that enhance gameplay. In the first few months, you will focus on integrating raw animations with gameplay mechanics while collaborating closely with game designers and animators. Your contributions will directly affect player engagement and overall game quality, making your work vital to the studio’s success.

Key Responsibilities

• You will take ownership of animation gameplay programming, focusing on character locomotion and overall movement feel to create a seamless gaming experience.
• Maintaining and extending our custom Advanced Locomotion System (ALS) will be a key responsibility, ensuring that it integrates smoothly with our game’s mechanics for long-term functionality.
• Your work will involve utilizing root motion pipelines and Motion Warping to achieve high-quality, responsive character movements and combat transitions.
• Collaboration with design and animation teams will be crucial as you translate their requirements into robust systems that allow for rapid iteration and testing.
• You will develop debugging and visualization tools as needed, addressing issues such as animation state debugging, root motion diagnostics, and network troubleshooting.
• Optimizing animation-related runtime costs for both PC and mobile targets will be essential, focusing on aspects such as tick cost, anim graph complexity, and LOD strategies.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A strong background in Unreal Engine 5, particularly in C++, with a focus on animation and gameplay integration.
• Experience in shipping or building networked character movement systems is essential, including knowledge of replication and common pitfalls.
• Hands-on experience with the Advanced Locomotion System (ALS) or a comparable custom locomotion framework is a must.
• A solid understanding of animation architecture within Unreal Engine, including AnimBlueprints, montages, state machines, and how to manipulate these through C++.
• Strong debugging skills and a commitment to clean coding practices are vital, along with an ownership mindset towards your work.

What You’ll Gain

• You will enhance your technical skills in Unreal Engine and C++, particularly in animation programming, which is a sought-after expertise in the gaming industry.
• Working in a collaborative environment will improve your teamwork and communication skills, particularly in a fully remote setting.
• Your experience with character movement systems will prepare you for advanced roles in game development, potentially leading to senior programming positions.
• Being part of a creative team focused on delivering engaging gameplay will foster your innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities.

How to Apply

Please send an email to careers@kiagu.com containing your CV or résumé, a portfolio or reel showcasing your relevant work, your availability and earliest possible start date, and your annual salary expectation for a full-time engagement (40 hours/week). Remember to label your email subject line with “[KCTA]” to ensure efficient processing of your application.