Lead Character Tools Engineer

4 hours ago

Remote, United StatesStaff+

Base Salary

$144k - $216k/yr

Responsibilities

Prototype, develop, deploy, maintain, and customize character creation, rigging, simulation, and animation tools and workflows.
Integrate tools with data management, art creation workflows, game editors, and real-time game engines.
Set up and maintain project-specific environments and identify automation opportunities.
Support varying client environments, assets, tools, and production workflows across internal studios.
Write technical documentation and collaborate with artists, engineers, technical artists, research engineers, and studio stakeholders.
Explore opportunities to apply AI and ML, including agentic workflows, to improve game development processes.
Participate in PlayStation internal demonstrations and conferences, with required travel.

10+ years of experience in a game development studio or equivalent experience creating artist-facing tools on a technical art or engineering team in production.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Graphic Art, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Experience developing and deploying tools for character creation, rigging, simulation, or animation pipelines in a run-time environment.
Extensive experience with Autodesk Maya, including general knowledge of Maya rigging, and strong understanding of game editors and DCC-to-real-time workflows.
Ability to write and debug C++.
Experience developing or maintaining project pipeline tools and system environments.
Strong understanding of deformation and mesh processing, plus familiarity with character rigging, gameplay animation, cinematic animation, deformation, and simulation trends.
Experience leveraging agentic AI models.
Strong troubleshooting, creative problem-solving, collaboration, experimentation, and research skills.
Strong Python programming skills and experience with PyQt or PySide are preferred.
Experience with MotionBuilder, Maya, Houdini, HLSL, MaterialX, Perforce, Git, and Confluence is preferred.
Exposure to photogrammetry, motion capture, or performance capture is preferred.

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Matching 401(k), paid time off, and a wellness program.
Employee discounts on Sony products and possible eligibility for a bonus package.
Hybrid working policy; travel is required for internal demonstrations and conferences.
Background checks are conducted at the offer stage.