Lead Animator (Unreal Engine)

TL;DR

Lead Animator (Unreal Engine): Lead combat and locomotion animation teams for AAA action games with an accent on building efficient pipelines, mentoring animators, and delivering high-quality animations on schedule. Focus on reviewing team work, improving workflows, hands-on keyframing and motion-capture, and collaborating with production on schedules and priorities.

Location: Offices in Novi Sad, Belgrade, Sarajevo or remote (hybrid preferred).

Company

Unconventional creators of action games for PC and consoles using Unreal Engine, with titles like Scars Above, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, and an unannounced AAA title.

What you will do

• Lead combat and locomotion animation team, including recruitment, skill development, and process improvements.
• Mentor animators, set expectations, review work, and ensure alignment with project directions.
• Work hands-on on animation tasks using traditional principles, gameplay fundamentals, and motion-capture.
• Create schedules and roadmaps with production, plan and delegate tasks based on priorities and capacity.
• Track progress, facilitate cross-department collaboration, define and improve pipelines for efficient delivery.
• Keep team informed on goals, provide feedback, support growth through 1-on-1s and evaluations, collaborate on hiring.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience animating for video games.
• Background in gameplay animation for AAA games, preferably in leadership.
• Strong locomotion and combat animation production experience.
• Strong keyframing skills.
• Written and spoken communication skills in English.

Nice to have

• Experience with Unreal Engine animation systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive industry-standard salary.
• Flexible working hours, 25 days vacation, additional leaves (sick, maternity support, life events), company-wide annual leave.
• Ongoing education: conferences, workshops, courses; work with top talents.
• Upbeat workplace, team from 3 offices and 16+ countries, collaboration with Sabre developers.
• On-site perks: private medical insurance, team-building events, fitness support, office snacks/merch (benefits vary by location/contract).