2K

Senior Gameplay Animation Software Engineer

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada · Work style not stated

Apply on the employer’s site ↗See how well you match this job

You apply directly with the employer. ROLIVA does not submit applications from this page and is not the employer.

About the role

Description from the employer’s posting. Check the employer’s page for the current version.

  • Employer2K
  • LocationBurnaby, British Columbia, Canada
  • Work styleWork style not stated
  • Employer posted

Who We Are

Founded in 2023, Small Axe Studios is 2K’s newest stand-alone studio, built to push the boundaries of game development and bring 2K’s next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. Headquartered in Burnaby, we are assembling a world-class team of visionaries, builders, and passionate gamers who thrive on creative collaboration, technical excellence, and bold ideas. At Small Axe Studios, we believe big things start with sharp focus—and we’re crafting an exceptional, player-first experience from the ground up. If you’re ready to tackle unique challenges, leave your mark on a brand-new IP, and help shape the future of interactive sports entertainment, we want you on our team!

What We Need

We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Engineer to contribute to the development of new animation features and gameplay mechanics at our new studio. In this role, you will be working closely with Animators, Design and Production to develop nuanced and sophisticated animation behaviors that authentically replicate the beautiful, continuous flow of modern field sports. You will help build the foundation, then iterate and innovate upon it to polish world-class, pitch-perfect gameplay for what will be the next massive sports franchise in our industry.

Show full description

What You Will Do

Collaborate closely with gameplay engineers / designers to identify and develop new gameplay features

Feature owner of key animation-driven gameplay mechanics, including complex locomotion, physical duels, and intricate foot-to-object interactions

Support requests and features for content creation tools and animation review, helping translate authentic athlete physics, momentum, and sudden changes of direction into interactive systems

Assist engineers in making the best use of existing and new animation features

Keep up to date with the latest industry work and implement these techniques

Write and maintain robust and performant code

Optimize code and debug animation issues as they arise

What Will Make You A Great Fit

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent work experience)

Excellent 3D math and linear algebra skills

Solid familiarity and experience with C++

3+ years of proven experience working with animation or gameplay systems

Implementation experience in one or more of the following areas: inverse kinematics techniques, procedural animation techniques, keyframe animation and forward kinematics

Ability to explain technical topics to people of varying levels of expertise

An eye for detail in creating dynamic, authentic, and responsive character animation

A deep love for video games (not just ours!) and a passion for sports culture, tracking everything from tactical team formations to what happens from the opening whistle to the final second of extra time

Beneficial Qualifications

Experience developing and shipping AAA games on Unreal Engine 4 and 5

Master’s/PhD in a related field with a focus on animation related topics

Familiarity with Python and/or C#

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between $96,400 and $142,660 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.

Staying safe while you apply

  • Never pay to apply, interview or accept an offer. ROLIVA never asks you for payment to apply to a job.
  • Apply only through the official “Apply on the employer’s site” button, on the employer’s own site, and check that a recruiter’s email uses that employer’s own domain rather than a free email address.
  • Be cautious of an offer made with no real interview, or pressure to decide quickly or share financial details early.

Does something look wrong with this listing? Use “Report broken link” in the role details, or read ROLIVA’s full job-safety guidance ↗.

Preparing for this role with ROLIVA

  • Check the fit.

    Compare the requirements with the experience you have confirmed, including gaps.

  • Prepare honestly.

    Build interview stories and application drafts from your own evidence.

  • Keep track.

    Save the role and record your own application status and follow-ups.

Create a free workspace or log in.

Software engineer jobs in Canada

ROLIVA currently lists 444 open roles like this in Canada.

Employers hiring for this

  • Autodesk30 open roles
  • Okta26 open roles
  • Capital One Financial25 open roles
  • Arista Networks17 open roles
  • General Motors16 open roles

Top skills asked for

Listings whose description mentions each term. A mention is not a requirement.

Advertised salary for this role here

These are advertised ranges, not what people are paid.

  • CAD a year, after annualising83,200–380,000 (22 listings, 10 employers)

At a glance

  • SenioritySenior
  • Employer posted
  • Added to ROLIVA
  • Last checked

Skills in this posting

Skills ROLIVA found in the employer’s own description above. A mention is not a requirement.

Python C++

Explore similar roles

Similar jobs