Animator

IronSpark • Birmingham, AL

3h • Onsite

About The Position

IronSpark is seeking an Animator to bring characters, narrative moments, and interactive experiences to life. The role collaborates with cross-disciplinary teams to turn concepts into emotionally resonant, high-impact animations that support intentional design. From early concepting through final polish, the Animator helps ensure visual storytelling meets studio standards. This is an in-person contract role based at IronSpark's Birmingham, Alabama studio, with a flexible daily work environment. Contract options are available for 3, 6, or 12 months, with up to 40 hours per week. Compensation is an hourly rate proportionate to individual experience.

Requirements

• 1–6 years of professional or high-level production animation experience in animation, game development, or interactive media.
• Proficiency in Maya and Unreal Engine.
• Strong grounding in hand-keyed animation, body mechanics, facial performance, and expressive character movement.
• A portfolio or reel demonstrating strong animation skills, with a clear breakdown sheet detailing personal contributions.
• Strong understanding of core animation principles, composition, dynamic posing, and emotional staging.
• Ability to take ownership of tasks, self-manage deadlines, and work well within a collaborative team.
• Excellent communication skills, a team-first attitude, and comfort receiving creative direction and constructive critique.
• Professionalism, discretion, and strict confidentiality regarding unreleased client and internal projects.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality, expressive keyframe animations for characters and narrative sequences across interactive media and real-time projects.
• Collaborate daily with directors, designers, and technical artists to maintain visual consistency and meet project goals.
• Draft previz and prototype animation concepts to explore ideas, solve creative challenges, and refine scene compositions.
• Estimate timelines for personal animation deliverables, manage workload, and consistently meet established deadlines.
• Participate in creative reviews, incorporate feedback, and iteratively refine assets to match project direction.

Benefits

• Opportunity to shape processes, tools, and culture from day one.
• Direct access to the founders and subject matter experts.
• Input into the product, processes, and company decisions.
• Broad exposure to work across functions.
• Opportunities to learn by solving new problems without an established playbook.
• Low-bureaucracy decision-making.
• Room to experiment with a try, learn, and adjust approach.
• Flexible hours or schedule.
• Remote or hybrid options are mentioned.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed