Lionhead Studios uses Amiqus Games (a division of the Alexander Mann Group) as its master recruitment vendor. Amiqus are a leading recruiter in the games industry and manage a small group of preferred suppliers on Lionhead Studio's behalf.

If you need any further information on how to apply please do not hesitate to get in touch ASAP

Current openings

Technical Designer:

Overall responsibility:

The Technical Designer must understand the vision of the Studio Executive and the direction of the Lead Designer and be able to assist in bringing the vision to its conclusion. You will be expected to contribute directly to the design of the game and put ideas for this across to the relevant parties and, as a “partner” in delivering the franchise, take direction to achieve this. As part of the design team you will be expected to take high level design direction and turn it into clear detailed low level design ready for implementation. You will be required to understand and own many of the game systems, have an in-depth knowledge of how they work together and how they affect each other. To be successful in this role it is imperative to have the ability to think clearly and creatively and work with the tools created and use them to build the game. An in-depth knowledge of how to build games and the skills necessary to deliver on all aspects required.

Key Accountabilities:

Game quality:

• Assist in determining the need, role, and importance of all in-game systems, ensuring consistency with the game vision
  
• Assist in determining the overall number of game-play modes
  
• Assist in determining the overall direction of the user interface
  
• Develop team parameters for the appropriate number and types of environments
  
• Develop team parameters for the optimal number and type of game assets
  
• Determine the overall direction and critical details of the game story
  
• Review of all rolled out design work at various stages as it is implemented to ensure that it fits the design vision and is of the quality desired.
  
• Testing the game to ensure it is playable/fun.
  
• Working with Technical, Art and Audio leads to realize the game design vision.
  
• Identify potential development risks and propose appropriate strategies to improve predictability and outcomes for the game
  
• Design and implement core game mechanics
  
• Scripting game character behavior and AI.
  
• Point out games and materials deemed necessary for research
  

Production efficiency:

• Develop, document, and promote best-practice design tools and approaches across the team to aid improvements to design efficiency and product quality
  
• Develop, test, and refine prototypes early in design process to improve predictability and efficiency of iterative cycles
  

Cross Group Collaboration:

• Partner with Test to extract lessons learned from past bugs, to reduce number and severity of bugs in the future
  
• Work with Central Technology Group/Engineering to proactively identify technology needs and work to find solutions to technology issues for the game
  
• Collaborate with others to define production approaches that balance functional and technical requirements
  
• Collaborate to design a testing approach that clearly identified product goals, target market, and demographics
  

Requirements:

• Must have completed at least 1 major AAA title
• Understanding of core underlying game mechanics principles
• Ability and desire to learn and understand any design tools and software
• Must be able to demonstrate vision and creativity, communicate this effectively and understand this in others
• Effective planning and organisation skills both at strategic and project levels;
• Must be able to effectively work with different functions and at different organisational levels
• An effective listener, able to understand and take direction
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Able to work under pressure, managing multiple activities in an organised manner;
• Ability to work with initiative and not need constant supervision
• Flexible approach to work i.e. makes the best use of time available;
• Passion for the games industry;
• Attention to detail;
• Cross-team collaboration.

Engine Tools Programmer

Overall responsibility:

Working together with the engine lead providing tools and conversion applications that integrate into an existing asset build pipeline.

Requirements:

• Experience of working in graphics engines on next gen systems
• Thorough understanding of the graphics pipeline
• Experience of creation of engine side tools such as mesh compilers, offline light mapping tools, shader managers
• Advanced understanding in C/C++ (4 years proven industry experience)
• Solid game development experience, with at least two published titles
• A sound understanding of large system architecture
• Experience defining, designing, implementing, and supporting production process for creative software teams
• Must be a team player and know the importance of listening to others

Your responsibilities will include, but is not limited to:

• Be a positive, active, and contributing team member
• Offer advice and suggestions for improving the development process
• To be proactive and help with problem solving
• To implement game content features within schedule and to an expected quality level
• Provide insight to anticipate technical/workflow issues and provide solutions
• Design and develop major engine and tools components
• Work with the asset pipeline to ensure a fast and effective build turnaround

Animation Programmer

Overall responsibility:

Candidate will be responsible for synchronising and combining the main character animation systems which cover locomotion and facial areas. Their main goal will be to create a character that can deliver a strong emotional performance and realistic motions. They will also be responsible for researching and implementing procedural animation layers to further increase the motion quality.

Qualifications:

• Experience with animation systems:
  • a. Skeletal character animation
  • b. N-way blends
  • c. Key frame animation
  • d. Motion trees
  • e. Segmented and skinned surfaces,
  • f. Animation exporters (XSI preferred).
• Expertise in C++.
• Strong 3D math background.
• 3+ years C++ professional games development experience, ideally with a concentration on animation programming.
• Strong communication skills, work ethic and motivation.
• Good eye for animation aesthetics and a good eye for believable human motions.

Preferred Experience:

• Havok Animation system
• Havok Behaviours system
• Experience in using IK systems for foot planting/hand balancing
• Preferred experience in working with articulated bodies and/or physical animation
• Working with procedural animations systems covering
  • Eye darts
  • Primary object focus
  • Camera awareness
  • Emotional state overlay
  • Locomotion trees/systems

Senior Motion Editor: 18 month contract

Overall responsibility:

Working within the animation team, responsible for retargeting, cleaning and finessing motion capture performance data, delivering game-ready animation data. We’ve very keen to have some one with good facial experience

Requirements:

• Thorough understanding of the motion capture pipeline, from acquisition through solving and delivery
• Demonstrate a solid understanding of traditional animation principles (timing, weight etc) and how they relate to motion captured performance
• Working knowledge of the character technical pipeline
• Proven experience working with motion editing toolsets, layering motion through additive edits
• Autodesk Motionbuilder/Giant Nuance or equivalent software
• At least 3+ years experience in features/game production
• Experience working with high fidelity facial animation desirable and familiarity with FACS type facial rigging system a bonus
• A passion for enabling delivery of world class performance, right through the pipeline

Your responsibilities will include, but is not limited to:

• Responsible for developing and establishing a workflow with the Mo-cap td and animation lead
• Responsible for communicating that workflow to new recruits
• Be a positive, active, and contributing team member; to be proactive and help with problem solving
• Offer advice and suggestions for improving the motion edit process
• To ensure the animation delivered from the motion edit team is of consistent high quality, QA'ing junior/mid level operator work where necessary
• Provide insight to anticipate technical/workflow issues and provide solution

If you need any further information please do not hesitate to get in touch ASAP

Please send your CV's to Lionheadgames@amiqus.com.

Contact information:
Stig Strand,
Amiqus Games,
Chadwick House,
Warrington Road,
Birchwood Park,
WA3 6AE
stig.strand@amiqus.com
tel. +44 (0)1925 252588
fax. +44 (0)1925 252596.

Lionhead may post jobs on this website, but unless clearly stated otherwise, please address all recruitment requirments, job applications or CVs to Stig Strand at AMIQUS.