Expert Animator – FPS

Job Description:

• Own the vision, quality, and execution of first-person animation systems throughout development
• Create high-quality first-person animations for weapons, abilities, locomotion, interactions, and gameplay systems
• Collaborate with Gameplay Design and Engineering to support responsiveness, readability, and player feedback
• Develop and maintain animation blueprints, state machines, Control Rig solutions, and gameplay animation systems within Unreal Engine 5
• Create and refine procedural and layered animation solutions
• Build, maintain, and optimize first-person animation pipelines and workflows
• Rig and prepare first-person assets for animation and engine implementation
• Integrate animations efficiently into gameplay systems with Technical Art and Engineering
• Review, direct, and provide feedback to external animation vendors and contract animators
• Establish animation standards, documentation, and best practices
• Collaborate with leadership to define animation priorities, schedules, and quality benchmarks
• Support cinematic and scripted gameplay animation needs when required

Requirements:

• 7+ years of animation experience, including shipped AAA or AA FPS credits in a Senior Animator, Lead Animator, Principal Animator, Expert Animator, or equivalent role
• Expert-level proficiency in first-person animation: weapons, hands, locomotion, interactions, and player abilities
• Deep understanding of first-person gameplay feel, responsiveness, and player feedback principles
• Extensive experience with Unreal Engine animation systems, including Animation Blueprints, Blend Spaces, State Machines, Control Rig, and Sequencer
• Strong animation fundamentals: timing, weight, posing, anticipation, and readability
• Experience rigging and preparing first-person assets for production use
• Strong understanding of animation implementation and integration within game engines
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Design, Engineering, Technical Art, and Production teams
• Experience reviewing and directing the work of external animation partners
• Active engagement with AI tools relevant to animation, including AI-assisted rigging, cleanup workflows, or reference tooling
• Comfort with AI in the animation pipeline
• Strong communication skills and ability to provide clear, actionable feedback

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Flexible paid time off
• Remote-first work from anywhere in the US or Canada
• Opportunity to influence the studio and its operations at an early stage
• Broad technical ownership from day one
• Work with cutting-edge UE5 technology
• Project targeting PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S