Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Animation Integration

Genies is an AI avatar technology company powering the visual and embodiment layer for AI. Through the Genies SDK, their proprietary avatar framework brings AI to life as fully realized AI personas that look, think, behave, and play like living identities. Genies powers AI companion, NPC, and agent use cases across enterprise, consumer, creator, entertainment, and gaming. Genies has raised $200M from Silver Lake, BOND, and Bob Iger. Genies is built on the belief that every website, app, game, brand, and human will have an AI persona. Genies is looking for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join our Avatar Technology team, focused on building the next generation of AI-driven animation systems. This role is focused on integrating machine learning systems into production animation pipelines and realtime environments, while also owning the applied ML work required to make these systems effective in practice. You will work across data, modeling, and runtime systems to ensure ML-driven animation performs reliably and at high quality in production. What You’ll Be Doing: - Integrate machine learning models into realtime animation systems across mobile and web environments. - Develop systems that translate inputs such as audio, text, and intent into responsive avatar motion in production. - Work with generative models (e.g., diffusion, transformer-based systems) and adapt them for specific use cases such as facial animation, gesture generation, and character behavior. - Collect, process, and manage animation datasets (mocap, facial capture, simulation data) for training, fine-tuning, and evaluation. - Build data pipelines for extraction, preprocessing, and validation of motion data. - Fine-tune and adapt existing models to improve quality, stability, and performance in production environments. - Collaborate with Behavior and LLM teams to integrate predictive motion systems into state machines and character logic. - Design and build tools and workflows that enable Technical Artists to work effectively with ML-driven animation systems. - Develop pipelines that connect DCC tools (Maya, Blender) with ML systems and runtime engines. - Debug, profile, and optimize runtime performance across CPU, GPU, and memory constraints. - Develop automation and validation systems to support asset quality and iteration speed. What You Should Have: - 7+ years of experience in machine learning, animation systems, or related technical roles in games, VFX, or interactive media. - Experience developing and shipping ML systems in production environments. - Strong programming skills in Python, along with C++ and/or C#. - Experience working with animation systems, including skeletal animation, rigging, or simulation pipelines. - Familiarity with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow. - Experience working with datasets and building data processing pipelines. - Experience integrating systems into realtime engines such as Unity, Unreal, or web-based runtimes. - Strong understanding of performance constraints, including latency, memory, and scalability. - Experience building tools or workflows for Technical Artists or content teams. Who You Are: - You are comfortable working across machine learning, animation systems, and realtime applications. - You can take models from prototype to production and understand the tradeoffs involved. - You care about animation quality and user experience, not just model outputs. - You work well with cross-functional teams across ML, engineering, and content. - You are proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable owning systems end-to-end. - You communicate clearly and can translate technical concepts across disciplines. How Genies will support you - Competitive salary and equity packages - Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance - Unlimited PTO - Parental leave - Hybrid work structure (minimum 4 days in office weekly) - Monthly wellness reimbursement Genies is a well-funded, fast-growing start-up that values innovat