Experienced Programmer: Core Technology - Microsoft Studios - Lionhead Job

Job Title Experienced Programmer: Core Technology - Microsoft Studios - Lionhead Job
Job Category Programming
Skills Required Programming
Location Guildford
Job Description Job Category: Software Engineering: Development
Location: Guildford, GB
Job ID: 829022-105726
Division: Interactive Entertainment Business

Experienced Programmer: Core Technology
Interactive Entertainment Business: Europe, Middle East, Asia
Location: Guildford, UK
Package: Competitive Salary + Bonuses + Benefits

Role Purpose
Lionhead Studios is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Programmer with specific knowledge of Core game technology, to be a key contributor on an unannounced title. The ideal candidate is someone who is passionate about games (and game development) and has significant experience designing, implementing, maintaining and extending modern game engine systems. The role will initially focus on working with the design team and the Core Lead in order to define and implement the systems requirements for the game and ensure they are met by our chosen and developed solutions. It will then focus on ensuring performance and quality requirements are met. The ideal candidate will be comfortable implementing requirements in the context of an existing middleware based codebase.

Team/Department Mission
Are you a highly talented individual who enjoys a challenge and is brimming with drive and enthusiasm? Do you feel your skills and talents are waiting to find the right creative environment in which to thrive?

At Lionhead we strive to create successful, landmark games and to be one of the world’s most respected developers. To that end we are continually looking for bright, talented individuals to join our team. We are well aware that new employees and fresh ideas keep us the dynamic and creative Studio that we are!

Key Accountabilities:
•Work with the design department and the Core Lead to determine and validate core systems requirements
•Technical design, implementation, integration, maintenance and customisation of the technology features required by the game design and any targeted platforms.
•Key responsibility for the performance of core technology, particular in the areas of streaming, animation systems, memory management, runtime content management, debugging and monitoring systems etc.
•Cross discipline collaboration with other technical and non-technical team members in the areas of graphics, animation, networking, physics, AI/pathfinding, tools and pipelines etc.
•Develop, maintain and disseminate key target platform knowledge to the team.

Key Success Criteria:
•The core technology systems are of high enough quality to support the game’s design for initial launch and ambitions for future expansion and releases.
•The performance of core systems is adequate throughout the game’s development.
•Blocking issues and bugs are fixed promptly and correctly.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

1) Essential Experience
•A minimum of 1 shipped AAA title as a senior core technology programmer on the current generation (Xbox 360, PC; PS3 also considered)
•Solid core technology programming experience

2) Desired Experience
•Ability to write large new systems as well as maintain and restructure existing ones
•Knowledge of Unreal Engine 3 and/or 4.
•Experience working in an agile environment within a SCRUM framework.

3) Technical/Functional Skills
•Extensive experience of C++
•Extensive knowledge of game engine systems and programming areas such as
a.3D maths and geometry
b.Parallel processing, multithreading and scheduling
c.File systems and data streaming
d.Animation systems
e.Algorithm analysis and development
f.Data reflection
g.Performance analysis and optimisation
•Experience developing re-usable libraries and components
•Cross platform development (previous Microsoft console and Windows/PC knowledge a distinct plus)

4) Personal Attributes/Interpersonal Skills
•Passion for playing and developing games
•Excellent communication skills, along with proven ability to work effectively with other disciplines.

Special Requirements/Additional Information e.g. Language Skills
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity.
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Salary Competitive Salary + Bonuses + Benefits
Date posted 08/03/2013
Recruiter This job is advertised on behalf of Microsoft Studios (UK) using their internal reference 829022-105726.
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