Lead 3D Animator (Gamedev)

TL;DR

Lead 3D Animator (Gamedev): Establishing animation pipelines and quality benchmarks for AAA game projects with an accent on technical implementation within engine and artistic direction. Focus on leading teams, optimizing animation workflows, and delivering high-fidelity character movement across diverse styles.

Company

hirify.global is a specialized co-development art studio focused on delivering AAA-quality 3D art, animation, and technical art solutions for global game developers and entertainment brands.

What you will do

• Define and drive the artistic vision, style, and quality standards for animations across multiple projects.
• Establish efficient animation pipelines and workflows to ensure scalability and performance.
• Deliver polished keyframe animations and implement them directly within Unity3D and Unreal Engine.
• Mentor and review work from internal animators and external freelancers to maintain quality consistency.
• Collaborate with riggers, tech artists, and designers to align animations with gameplay requirements.
• Present progress and discuss animation direction during client-facing meetings.

Requirements

• 1–2+ shipped AA or AAA games as an animator.
• Strong proficiency in Maya, Blender, or equivalent software.
• Expertise in animation blueprints, state machines, and implementation in Unity3D and Unreal Engine.
• Proven leadership experience mentoring animation teams and establishing workflows.
• English language proficiency required.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating gameplay-ready animations and stylistic versatility.

Nice to have

• Experience with procedural or physics-driven animation systems.
• Basic knowledge of rigging or technical animation.
• Familiarity with shader-driven effects.
• Experience managing remote teams and freelancers.

Culture & Benefits

• Remote-first culture with core collaboration hours between 10:00–15:00 CET.
• Flexible contract models including B2B and employment.
• Minimum of 20 days paid annual leave.
• Yearly team retreats for alignment and team building.
• Opportunity for growth into Animation Director or Department Lead roles.
• High-impact contribution to international, high-profile projects.