Senior Technical Animator (GameDev)

TL;DR

Senior Technical Animator (GameDev): Driving the development of scalable, high-performance character systems across Unreal Engine productions with an accent on animation, rigging, engineering, and pipeline. Focus on architecting runtime animation systems, building and optimizing production pipelines, developing tools, and collaborating across disciplines to deliver AAA-quality character experiences.

What you will do

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable runtime animation systems in Unreal Engine.
• Develop modular, data-driven animation frameworks supporting layered gameplay systems.
• Build, integrate, and optimize character systems such as IK setups, secondary motion, and simulation workflows.
• Design, build, and maintain robust cross-DCC and engine pipelines to support character and animation workflows.
• Identify production bottlenecks, troubleshoot complex pipeline and content issues, and implement scalable solutions across teams.
• Mentor team members and contribute to evolving technical and pipeline strategies across projects.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in games, film, or real-time interactive production, with a focus on technical animation, technical art, or related disciplines.
• Deep experience with Unreal Engine, including real-time animation systems and performance considerations. Profile animation systems using Unreal Insights and in-engine tools.
• Strong scripting and programming skills (Python required; experience with MEL, C#, or C++ preferred).
• Proven experience developing and maintaining production-ready tools, pipelines, and workflows.
• Strong understanding of real-time character systems, including skeletal hierarchies, retargeting, facial rigging techniques, IK/FK blending, pose-space correctives and runtime constraints.
• Experience optimizing CPU cost and scalability for multiplayer, crowds, or live-service environments.

Nice to have

• MotionBuilder experience for retargeting or mocap cleanup.
• Working knowledge of C++ in Unreal Engine.
• Experience supporting multiplayer or networked character systems.
• Experience working on live-service titles or large-scale productions.