Expert Gameplay Animation Software Engineer

Who We Are

Founded in 2023, 2K Sports Lab is the newest stand alone studio at 2K looking to push game development boundaries to bring 2K's next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. We're building a world-class team at our new Vancouver, BC location where our goal is to deliver an exceptional experience through bold ideas, technical excellence, and creative collaboration. We're seeking passionate and driven professionals across all areas of game development to help shape this ambitious vision. If you’re interested in tackling unique challenges and think you have what it takes to level up our team, we encourage you to apply!

We’re looking for an Expert Gameplay Animation Software Engineer to build the animation systems powering our next AAA sports title. You’ll work on a multi-disciplinary team with animators and gameplay engineers, designing networked animation systems in Unreal Engine 5 that drive authentic movement and player interactions. We need someone who combines deep animation engineering expertise with a strong understanding of multiplayer architecture.

●      Develop and extend animation systems such as blend trees, IK, and motion matching

●      Develop networked character movement using UE5’s plugins such as CMC or Mover

●      Build sports-specific animations for locomotion, contact, and player interactions

●      Replicate animation state across clients for seamless multiplayer experiences

●      Develop procedural and physics-driven animation for realistic motion

●      Partner with animators, designers, and gameplay engineers to deliver features

●      Mentor engineers and contribute to team-wide technical growth

●      Conduct code reviews to uphold quality and consistency

●      8+ years of software engineering experience in game development

●      Expertise in C++ and Unreal Engine 5

●      Excellent 3D math and linear algebra skills

●      Deep experience building game animation systems and pipelines

●      Strong understanding of UE5 networking, replication, and character movement

●      Experience with state machines, blend trees, IK, or motion matching

●      Familiarity with multi-threaded programming in performance-critical environments

●      Excellent communication and collaboration skills across disciplines

●      Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience

●      Experience with procedural or physics-driven animation techniques

●      Proficiency in Python for tools and pipeline development

●      Track record of shipping AAA sports or simulation titles

●      Passion for playing or watching sports

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided  suitable accommodations to enjoy equal employment opportunities, including the ability to participate in the job application or interview process. Please contact us if you need an accommodation as part of your application process or otherwise have questions about the Company’s accommodation policy and review process.

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.

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between $114,300 and $169,140 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 employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.