Viewmodel Gameplay Animator – Contract

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Develop high-quality first-person weapon animations, encompassing firing, reloads, weapon handling, inspections, melee actions, equipment usage, and various gameplay interactions.

• Apply traditional animation principles to create stylized to hyper-realistic movements in games.

• Ensure clear weapon readability, strong posing, convincing weight, and responsive timing from the player's viewpoint.

• Animate and enhance first-person camera motion to boost gameplay clarity, impact, and overall presentation.

• Collaborate with designers, engineers, technical artists, riggers, modelers, and fellow animators to address creative and technical challenges.

• Implement, test, and troubleshoot animations within the game engine or proprietary tools.

• Act on feedback and iterate efficiently to reach AAA-level polish.

• Assist in identifying workflow or pipeline enhancements to improve animation team efficiency and quality.

• Communicate updates, risks, technical challenges, and creative intentions to partners and leadership.

• Contribute to the development of animation standards, documentation, and reusable animation systems.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 3 years of professional animation experience.

• A minimum of 1 year of professional experience in game animation.

• Solid animation fundamentals with a focus on human movement, weight, timing, posing, and physicality.

• Experience in creating or implementing first-person or gameplay animations.

• Advanced skills in Autodesk Maya.

• Familiarity with animation implementation tools and game engines.

• Strong problem-solving abilities when facing creative and technical challenges.

• Capability to work effectively across multiple disciplines within a collaborative development environment.

• Ability to accept feedback, iterate swiftly, and uphold high-quality standards.

• Excellent communication, organizational skills, and self-direction.

• Quick to learn and adapt within an established production pipeline.

• Preferred experience includes at least one shipped game title.

• Bonus points for experience in first-person shooters.

• Additional experience with motion capture cleanup, retargeting, or editing is a plus.

• Familiarity with proprietary game engines or animation pipelines is advantageous.

• Mentorship experience with junior or associate animators is a bonus.

• Interest in participating in previs or mocap shoots, when project requirements dictate, is an added benefit.

• Proven ability to take ownership of complex animation projects from initial direction through to implementation and refinement.

• Ability to provide constructive feedback and technical support to less experienced animators.

• Skill in identifying risks early and independently resolving production issues.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, including health savings accounts, healthcare spending accounts, and life and disability insurance.

• 401(k) plan with company matching.

• Tuition reimbursement opportunities.

• Charitable donation matching program.

• Paid holidays and vacation time.

• Paid sick leave.

• Floating holidays.

• Compassionate and bereavement leave.

• Parental leave.

• Mental health and wellbeing programs.

• Fitness initiatives.

• Access to free and discounted games.

• Supplemental life and disability insurance.

• Legal services and ID protection.

• Rental insurance.

• Relocation assistance may be provided if necessary for geographical relocation.

• Incentive compensation may be available, though not guaranteed.