Senior Gameplay Animator (Gamedev)

TL;DR

Senior Gameplay Animator (Gamedev): Create polished gameplay and cinematic animations using keyframe and motion capture techniques for PC and console titles with an accent on third-person animation, body dynamics, and engine integration. Focus on iterating based on playtesting, collaborating with design and programming teams, and optimizing player experience through seamless animation state machines.

Location: Must be Ontario residents or willing to relocate. Flexible work schedule: remote, hybrid, or on-site.

Salary: $90,000 – $120,000 CAD per year

What you will do

• Create polished gameplay and cinematic animations using keyframe and motion capture techniques.
• Integrate animations into the game engine, troubleshoot issues, and ensure seamless interaction with animation state machines.
• Iterate animations based on playtesting, team reviews, and performance metrics to optimize player experience.
• Collaborate with animation, design, programming, and production teams to meet deadlines and achieve game vision.
• Contribute to developing, maintaining, and improving animation processes and pipelines.
• Mentor junior animators and uphold high-quality animation practices.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional gameplay animation experience, ideally for PC and console titles.
• Ontario residents or willing to relocate.
• Strong background in third-person animation; experience in first-person shooters or hack-and-slash games is a plus.
• Proficiency with MotionBuilder and Maya for character animation workflows.
• Solid understanding of body dynamics and realistic human hand keyframe animation.
• Experience with motion capture data and integrating it into animation pipelines.
• Familiarity with game engines and animation state machines, preferably Unreal Engine 4 or above.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, self-motivation.
• Submission of an animation reel demonstrating relevant skills.
• Willingness to complete a paid animation test if requested.

Nice to have

• Cinematic/scripted events animation, rigging, scripting, or pipeline experience.

Culture & Benefits

• 6.5 weeks paid vacation and unlimited sick days.
• Eligibility for game performance bonuses.
• Comprehensive healthcare and benefits for employees and families.
• 100% parental leave top-up for 16 weeks for Canadian employees.
• Flexible work schedule and location options.