Rockstar North

ROCKSTAR NORTH, the award winning developer behind Grand Theft Auto, is looking to expand their experienced and talented teams working out of the studio in Edinburgh . For the successful candidate we offer a highly competitive salary, a working environment second to none and an extensive benefits package.

At Rockstar North we like to receive and would encourage direct applications from candidates.

CURRENT POSITIONS

AI Programmer

Rockstar North is currently seeking an experienced AI programmer.

Commercial games experience is essential with at least two years and one published title on PS3 or Xbox 360 to demonstrate your skills.

We are looking for a talented engineer to help us in developing advanced Character and Vehicle AI for large scale games. You should have a positive attitude, a passion for games and be able to communicate with people as effectively as you do a computer.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain and extend current AI systems on Xbox 360 and PS3.
Design and implement advanced and realistic AI to create an immersive game experience for the player.

Requirements

Strong C/C++ programming skills
Strong OO design skills
Strong 3D maths background
At least 3 years commercial games programming experience with an emphasis on AI.
A passion for games and in particular for creating game AI that contribute to an interactive and realistic game experience.

Animation Programmer

Rockstar North is currently seeking an experienced Animation Programmer.

Commercial games experience is essential with at least two years and one published title on PS3 or Xbox 360 to demonstrate your skills.

We are looking for a talented engineer to help us in developing advanced character animation systems for large scale games. You should have a positive attitude, a passion for games and be able to communicate with people as effectively as you do a computer.

Responsibilities:

· Develop, maintain and extend current animation systems on Xbox 360 and PS3.

· Develop and integrate cutting edge animation technologies working closely with colleagues at different Rockstar studios.

· Develop and support the connections between the animation, AI and physics systems.

Requirements:

· Strong C/C++ programming skills

· Strong OO design skills

· Strong 3D maths background

· At least 2 years commercial games programming experience with an emphasis on character animation.

· A passion for games and in particular for leveraging advanced animation technology to create an immersive game experience for the player.

Character Animator

We'd like to hear from talented animators with a range of experience & backgrounds to produce in-game sequences and cinematics.

We are also looking for animator/riggers to handle setup, assembly and problem-solving with character assets for body and facial animation. For cinematics, good technical skills and experience of editing motion capture data, editing of longer sequences with multiple characters and non-mocap animation props preferred.

All applicants should be fluent in one or more of the major packages with 3ds Max, Character Studio & Motionbuilder experience an advantage.

Please note: ALL applications should be accompanied by a showreel, either on DVD or via a link to the reel.

Materials must be presented on VHS or DVD (PAL or NTSC) with 1 Showreel presentation no longer than 3 minutes.
Sound is not important.
Showreel should be one contiguous file i.e. not multiple links or files

Development Assistant

We are currently looking for efficient, well organised, Development Assistants for a full time fixed term contract. You should have good IT skills with exceptional communication and team working skills.

Skills and Experience:

Educated to at least degree level in a relevant discipline.
Self-motivated, flexible with the ability to handle multiple priorities.
Excellent communication skills, both interpersonal and in writing with good attention to detail.
Good MS Office skills, (Excel, Word) and a confident learner on new software.
Experience gained working to deadlines within the production environment would be an advantage.
Ability to organise & present data, for example, image or text files.

Environment Artists

We'd like to hear from the industry's most talented environment artists.

You will be designing, building and texturing the world, have the technical knowledge to achieve great looking results and the skill to get the most from next-gen consoles.

Advanced skills in one or more of the standard industry 3D packages essential. Knowledge of 3DS Max an advantage.

Please accompany the application with links to your portfolio or provide examples of your work.

Games Tester

Rockstar North is looking for enthusiastic and knowledgeable console gamers to join its QA team. You will be expected to focus on aspects of our games looking for problems and accurately reporting errors to ensure game quality before release. The position is a 6 month fixed term contract. Candidates must be 18 years of age or above and provide two references.

Required:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills are a must; as is attention to detail and good general computer skills, including word-processing; working with databases and spreadsheets. Being a next-generation console gamer is also essential.

Desired:

Previous experience with software QA would be advantageous but not essential.

To apply please send your full current CV and a cover letter (detailing your history as a gamer and why you think you have the skills to make a good tester).

The successful applicant would then progress to a two stage selection process. Firstly candidates will be sent an application pack to assess their technical & gaming knowledge. Then if successful the next stage would be an interview.

Please Note: Initial applications made without both CV and Gaming History will be automatically rejected.

Rockstar are only interested in direct applications for this position and will not be inviting agencies to forward candidates.

Information Systems Developer

We are looking for an experienced and talented developer to join our information systems and web team. The opportunity exists to get involved in a variety of exciting projects.

The ideal candidate will have practical experience in managing and delivering software projects. They will have good attention to detail, possess excellent team-working and communication skills and be able to deliver effectively to a deadline.

Required:

Strong Java (Spring or EJB 3.0 experience desired)

SQL (MySQL or PostgreSQL replication experience a benefit)

XML

Desirables:

Experience developing on linux

Experience with ORM (Hibernate)

JavaScript

Agile development experience

C++

IT Systems Engineer

Rockstar North is looking for an enthusiastic, talented and personable Systems Engineer to join our Edinburgh based IT group. Applicants will be highly motivated and organised, able to work as part of a team, while also possessing the ability to work without supervision.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Day to day administration of 30+ various Windows, Mac OS, and Linux servers.
Manage and administer Microsoft products such as: Microsoft Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Operations Manager, Microsoft SharePoint Server, Microsoft Live Communications Server, Microsoft SQL Server, as well as other server systems.
Manage and administer Network Appliance.
Management of Cisco networking products including Catalyst and ASA series hardware.
Management of VPN and Wanscaler equipment.
Working with TCP/IP based networking products.
Provide timely and creative solutions to difficult problems.
Work with various hardware and software inventories.

QUALIFICATIONS (Required):

Possess a thorough and detailed understanding of the Windows operating system.
Possess a thorough and detailed understanding of the Linux operating system.
7+ years experience with Active Directory & Microsoft Exchange including related technologies and standards like: DHCP, DNS, DFS, LDAP, IPSEC, CIFS, SMB, etc.
Possess a thorough understanding of principles of TCP/IP based networks.
Possess excellent Cisco IOS skills.
Experience with Data ONTAP.
Experience with the Microsoft family of products in a distributed production environment.
Ability to create and maintain technical documentation from the beginning of a project through completion.
Ability to sometimes work flexible hours, occasionally rotating shifts, or out of hours as necessary.
Experience with taking projects from planning through completion.
Dedication, teamwork and professionalism.
The ability to handle high pressure situations.
Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or related field, MCSE certification, CCNP, or equivalent experience.

QUALIFICATIONS (Desired):

Knowledge of or experience with game development systems is advantageous.
Perforce experience.
Python Scripting experience.

REPORTS TO: IT Manager

Mission Scripter

We are looking for individuals whose skill set combines technical excellence with a passion for making games. The role involves script based programming and close collaboration with our other disciplines from animation, art and programming.

As part of the Level Design team you will be using our proprietary in house scripting language to code game missions and create immersive gameplay scenarios featuring AI, physics and interactive storytelling.

Requirements:

- Strong C/C++ programming skills are required.

- The role involves script-based programming and liaising with artists, animators and programmers

- You will have excellent communication, technical & problem solving skills.

- Must thrive in a team based working environment

- Must be accurate and effective in working to deadlines.

Please support the application with examples of your work.

Senior Tools Programmer

Rockstar North is currently seeking a highly talented Senior Tools Programmer. The role will involve developing and maintaining all aspects of the export pipeline across multiple projects and platforms. The position has the potential to develop into a Lead role within the Department.

Required:

Familiarity with at least one next gen art pipeline
Familiarity with at least one dcc package
Strong interdepartmental communication skills
Ability to work within a team
Experience with at least one scripting language - Ruby, Python etc
Strong math skills
Ability to work within a schedule and deliver effectively to deadlines
Ability to work within an established framework
A pragmatic approach to programming within a production environment.

Desired:

3d Studio Max SDK and script experience
Experience with a distributed build tool
Experience of Ruby scripting language

Tools Programmer

We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented programmer to work in our tools department. Games industry experience is useful but not a requirement. Responsibilities will include the upkeep of our current toolchain and export pipeline, improving and extending them and providing tools support to the other departments in the studio.

Requirements

Strong C/C++ programming skills
Excellent communication skills, required to do tools support.
Knowledge of at least one 3d modelling package
Ability to work in a team
Ability to work to a schedule and deliver effectively to deadline.

Desired

3d Studio Max SDK and script experience
Experience of Ruby scripting language
Games industry experience

Web Developer

We are looking for an experienced and talented developer to join our information systems and web team.

The successful candidate will be design focused with an attention to detail and will have a proven track record in delivering cross browser web solutions that conform to web standards and accessibility guidelines.

In addition they will be self-motivated, possess excellent team-working and communication skills and be able to deliver effectively to a deadline.

Required:

Strong JavaScript with commercial AJAX experience (preferably jQuery)

Strong cross browser CSS experience

Desirables:

C# (ASP.NET MVC experience would be highly advantageous)