Animation R&D Programmer: Computer Vision and ML

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences. 

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects to be found in any entertainment medium - all within an inclusive, highly-motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry.

Rockstar Games is currently seeking an Animation Programmer with an interest in researching Computer Vision and Machine Learning. We are looking for a talented engineer to help us develop advanced facial performance capture, animation, and rigging technology for our character based games. You should have strong initiative, a detailed knowledge of image processing, photogrammetry, and machine/deep learning techniques, as well as an interest in realistic, high quality facial performance capture.

This is a full-time, in-office position based out of Rockstar’s new state-of-the-art game development studio in Carlsbad, CA. 

WHAT WE DO

• We develop animation technology, from performance capture through to a sophisticated runtime engine, for massive open world games.
• We are a global team of programmers and researchers who collaborate on pushing the boundaries of character animation on next generation hardware.
• We support and work closely with gameplay, animation and technical art teams, across multiple projects at different Rockstar studios.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Join our core animation technology team and work closely with performance capture, animation, rigging, technical art, and tools teams across different Rockstar studios.
• Research, develop, maintain, extend, and support a wide range of image/video/mesh processing, surface reconstruction, animation, and rigging performance capture technology, editing pipelines, tools, and runtime systems.
• Keep up to date with the latest academic and industry breakthroughs, independently research and develop improvements to continuously push our technology forward.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree in Computer Science or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience developing within a large existing codebase, collaborating or working independently within a large team.

SKILLS

• Strong Python programming skills.
• Expertise in image, video or mesh processing and computer vision techniques, photogrammetry, and surface reconstruction.
• Practical success in data engineering, applying the latest machine learning/deep learning (ML/DL) approaches to production scale problems.
• Ability to research and develop latest published ML techniques and models, and derive new solutions based on established ones.
• Good communication skills, ability to clearly share complex technical information with programmers, technical artists, animators, and riggers.

PLUSES

Please note that these are desirable skills and are not required to apply for the position.

• Industry experience working on AAA character based games, or character based VFX animation.
• C/C++ and C# programming skills.
• Strong 3D math skills.
• Knowledge of standard ML deployment technologies - Docker, Kubernetes, Portainer, etc.
• Proficiency in animating or rigging (using skeletal bones or blend shapes) in 3DS Max, Maya, or Blender, etc.
• Strong R&D mindset, adept at taking the initiative on researching and experimenting with new ideas, solutions, and technologies.
• Passion for character based games, good eye for facial performance capture.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a resume and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is committed to creating a work environment that promotes equal opportunity, dignity and respect. In line with this commitment, Rockstar will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process in order for such applicants to be considered for the position for which they are applying, as well as to qualified employees to enable them to perform the essential functions of their roles. If you need more information about Rockstar’s reasonable accommodation policies or process, or need to request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department.                                   

**For those based in Toronto, Rockstar will provide accommodations to job applicants and employees as long as such accommodations do not pose an undue hardship on Rockstar, and consistent with its obligations under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, race, or any other protected category.

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