Senior Technical Artist, Animation (GameDev)

TL;DR

Senior Technical Artist, Animation (GameDev): Defines and maintains animation systems for characters and creatures in an upcoming MMO with an accent on complex animation state machines, layered interactions, and IK-driven behaviors. Focus on building scalable animation graphs, ensuring believable motion, and optimizing performance across a vast, dynamic world.

Location: This role requires candidates to be based in the United States, with company benefits (401k, US health insurance) and legal compliance (California Fair Chance Act) tied to this region. The company offers flexible work schedules.

Company

hirify.global is dedicated to creating games and experiences that prioritize players, driven by a mission to continuously improve player experiences.

What you will do

• Build and maintain complex animation state machines, layered animation systems, and override logic for player characters, NPCs, creatures, and props.
• Collaborate with animators, character tech artists, and designers to develop efficient and believable animation flows.
• Define best practices for animation setup, ensuring debuggability, documentation, and maintainability of animation blueprints and graphs in Unreal Engine.
• Partner with engineers to evolve animation runtime systems and debugging workflows.
• Drive optimization efforts for animation assets and graphs to meet performance and memory targets.
• Develop scalable animation retargeting strategies to support various character and creature proportions.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience as a technical animator or technical artist in games or related industries.
• Deep expertise with Unreal Engine animation workflows, including complex Animation Blueprints, state machines, blend spaces, and layered animation systems.
• Proven experience designing scalable, reusable animation systems for large-scope character setups.
• Strong art foundation with a deep understanding of animation principles, anatomy, and motion.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across art, design, and engineering disciplines.

Nice to have

• Experience with Unreal Control Rig and Sequencer.
• Familiarity with C++ and/or Python within Unreal Engine.
• Expertise in Autodesk Maya for rigging and animation support.
• Experience working with software like Kawaii, Chaos, Havok.
• Prior experience supporting MMO or large-scale games with complex character ecosystems.
• Experience with runtime IK or motion warping.

Culture & Benefits

• Focus on work/life balance, including an open paid time off policy and flexible work schedules.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and life insurance.
• Parental leave for employees, spouses/domestic partners, and children.
• 401k with company match.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing equal employment opportunity for all applicants.