Technical Animator

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

📋 Description

• Develop advanced IK solutions (foot placement, terrain adaptation) utilizing Unreal Engine Control Rig and Animation Blueprints.

• Rig human characters, dinosaurs, and fantasy creatures with meticulous attention to anatomical accuracy, understanding joint placement and muscle deformation.

• Design and implement sophisticated procedural and gameplay-driven animation systems through Animation Blueprints (AnimBPs) in Unreal Engine 5.

• Construct responsive state machines, blend spaces, pose drivers, animation modifiers, notifies, and layered logic that are closely integrated with gameplay and physics.

• Create physics-based animation systems that include active ragdoll blending.

• Utilize Houdini for the procedural modification, generation, or optimization of meshes and skeletons.

• Address complex technical animation issues while collaborating with modeling, animation, design, and engineering teams.

• Conduct quality assurance, optimization (including LOD behavior), and ensure seamless integration with the engine.

• Produce clear technical documentation and contribute to the evolution of the animation and rigging pipeline.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 3 years of professional experience as a Technical Animator / Technical Artist in game development, with at least one title released.

• Strong proficiency in Unreal Engine Animation Blueprints, procedural animation methods, IK/FK systems, and real-time character/creature workflows.

• Hands-on experience with physics simulation in real-time engines (ragdoll, active physics blending, joint constraints, momentum-based animation).

• Ability to swiftly adapt to new pipelines, tools, and evolving engine features.

• Exceptional problem-solving abilities and strong communication skills.

• Experience with rigging in Maya.

• Previous involvement in creature animation.

• Programming experience is required.

• Familiarity with rigging pipelines from Maya to UE5.

• Experience with motion capture techniques.

• Knowledge of performance optimization.

• Experience with Houdini is a plus.

🏝️ Benefits

• We cover 100% of all premiums for employees and offer discounted rates for dependent premiums.

• Our benefits package includes Medical (with 5 different plans available), Dental, Vision, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, a 401(k) option, fully covered Parental Leave, PTO, Paid Holidays, Unlimited Sick Time, and FSA/HSA options.