Senior Technical Animator

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Implement and set up animation assets and systems directly within Unreal Engine 5.

• Create, maintain, and enhance complex Animation Blueprints and runtime procedural systems, including cloth simulation, inverse kinematics (IK), and secondary dynamics.

• Adjust, refine, and troubleshoot Motion Matching and sophisticated locomotion systems.

• Optimize animation assets, runtime systems, and editor frameworks to ensure smooth runtime performance and efficient memory usage.

• Identify and resolve technical animation issues that arise between Maya and the game engine.

• Collaborate with animation and engineering leads to improve authoring pipelines.

• Document tools and processes effectively.

• Mentor team members on best practices in the field.

• Work collaboratively with design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to create an exceptional AAA experience.

• Stay updated on technological advancements and propose solutions to developmental challenges.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 5 years of professional experience in technical animation within video game development.

• At least one shipped AAA title to your credit.

• Extensive practical knowledge of UE5 animation tools, including Animation Blueprints, Control Rigs, Montages, Notifies, and the Rewind Debugger.

• Comprehensive understanding of procedural runtime animation technologies like Motion Matching, Motion Warping, Control Rigs, Full-Body IK, Retargeting, Ragdoll dynamics, and Cloth simulation.

• Strong understanding of human anatomy and kinesiology.

• Insight into how skeletal mechanics influence deformation rigs and realistic animation performance.

• Clear comprehension of traditional animation principles and their implementation within real-time gameplay constraints.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams.

• Ability to maintain high effectiveness and quality in high-pressure, ambiguous, and rapidly changing environments.

• Capable of working independently while paying close attention to detail and organization.

• For candidates in Quebec: professional proficiency in both French and English; English is necessary for collaboration with U.S. teams and international partners, as well as for specialized technical documentation.

🏝️ Benefits

• Bonus and/or equity awards.

• 401(K) plan.

• Employee Stock Purchase Program.

• Medical insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Vision insurance.

• Basic life insurance coverage.

• 14 paid holidays each calendar year.

• Paid vacation time each calendar year (15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program.

• Up to 10 paid sick days each calendar year.

• Paid parental leave.

• Paid compassionate leave.

• Wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support.

• Family planning support through Maven.

• Commuter benefits.

• Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.

• Reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.