Senior Technical Animator – Quadrupeds, Unreal Engine

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Serbia, +2 more countries.

📋 Description

• Design and uphold animation systems for quadruped characters.

• Establish Animation Blueprints, State Machines, Blend Spaces, and Animation Layers.

• Develop and configure IK/FK, Full Body IK, and procedural animation systems.

• Create locomotion setups encompassing walking, trotting, cantering, galloping, turning, starting/stopping, and jumping.

• Configure blending, additive animations, sync groups, and transitions.

• Collaborate with IK Rig / IK Retargeter to adapt animations across various skeletons.

• Handle motion capture data, including cleanup and retargeting processes.

• Develop and maintain Control Rig tools.

• Address issues related to foot sliding, popping, IK, and blending artifacts.

• Optimize Animation Blueprints, Control Rig, and skeletal animation systems.

• Create and sustain animation systems for multiplayer projects.

• Work with networked locomotion, prediction, and reconciliation techniques.

• Synchronize Montages and locomotion states in a networked gameplay environment.

• Collaborate with animators, game designers, and programmers.

• Enhance the animation pipeline and develop internal tools.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in technical animation and gameplay animation.

• Practical experience with quadruped character animations.

• A portfolio showcasing quadruped animation examples is mandatory.

• Extensive knowledge of Unreal Engine, including Animation Blueprints, Control Rig, IK Rig / Retargeter, Blend Spaces, and State Machines.

• Strong comprehension of animal biomechanics and quadruped locomotion dynamics.

• Experience in rigging, skinning, and skeleton configuration.

• Familiarity with motion capture workflows.

• Proficiency in Maya, MotionBuilder, or similar DCC tools.

• Understanding of root motion, animation curves, notifies, montages, and additive animation.

• Experience in debugging and optimizing animation systems.

• Knowledge of the distinctions between local and replicated character states.

• Awareness of which animation states or variables should be handled locally versus those driven by replicated gameplay states.

• Understanding of latency, desynchronization, animation popping issues, and strategies to mitigate them.

• Proficient in conversational English.

🏝️ Benefits

• Unlimited Flexible Time Off.

• Customized career roadmap for each employee.

• Opportunities for professional development through training and educational programs.

• A supportive environment that prioritizes physical, mental, and emotional health.

• Background checks conducted following the final interview stage, where legally permitted.

• Confidential management of applicant information.

• Protection of privacy and non-distribution of personal data.