Principle Combat Animator (Unreal Engine)

Location: Remote within the UK or based in the West Midlands

Contractor, full-time; salary not specified.

Company

hirify.global is an independent game developer based just outside Birmingham, working on AAA titles and IP with studio and publisher partners.

What you will do

• Design, prototype and iterate player and enemy combat mechanics.
• Create and manipulate combat animation in Maya and implement it in Unreal Engine 5.6/5.8.
• Build and modify Animation Blueprints, Montages, state logic, blends, notifies, root motion and Motion Warping.
• Tune attack timings, movement, rotation, recovery, interrupts, hit reactions and combo behaviour.
• Playtest and iterate across animation, Blueprint and gameplay parameters to improve combat feel.
• Assist with gameplay cameras and diagnose animation and gameplay implementation problems.

Requirements

• Significant professional experience in gameplay animation and combat design for PC or console titles.
• Expert hands-on Unreal Engine implementation experience and strong Maya character animation skills.
• Experience taking animation from Maya through to fully playable implementation.
• Deep understanding of action and melee combat, including attacks, combos, hit reactions, dodges, blocks, parries, targeting and enemy interactions.
• Technical confidence with UE5+ Animation Blueprints, Montages, Blueprints, root motion, Motion Warping, IK and related animation systems.
• Visa sponsorship is not available; applicants must be able to work in the UK.

Culture & Benefits

• Friendly, nurturing environment with support across development.
• Opportunity to work on AAA titles and IP with reputable studio and publisher partners.
• Independent studio environment with varied internal and external projects.
• Opportunities to learn across a range of game development projects.

Hiring process

• Submit a portfolio and cover letter.
• Provide cleared work samples, preferably through an online portfolio or secure showreel link.