Principal Animator

Daybreak Games•San Diego, CA

2d•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking an exceptional Principal Animator to join our creative team and drive animation excellence across our gaming portfolio. As a Principal Animator, you will be a key creative leader responsible for establishing artistic standards, mentoring animators, and delivering industry-leading character animations that enhance gameplay experiences and bring depth and personality to our worlds. In this senior role, you will create high-quality animations for characters, NPCs, creatures, and cinematic sequences—spanning gameplay locomotion, combat systems, emotional performance, and cinematic storytelling. You'll collaborate directly with game designers, technical artists, programmers, and directors to ensure every frame serves the gameplay and narrative vision. Your expertise will encompass both traditional hand-keyed animation and modern motion capture workflows, and you'll be expected to push the boundaries of animation quality while maintaining technical efficiency. As a leader on the animation team, you will mentor junior and mid-level animators, establish best practices, define animation pipelines, and serve as the authority on animation craft within the studio. You'll own full animation development cycles, make independent creative decisions aligned with project vision, and drive continuous improvement in both artistic quality and technical execution.

Requirements

7+ years of professional experience in game animation production, with at least 2+ years in a leadership or mentorship role
Bachelor's degree in Animation, Computer Science, Fine Arts, or equivalent professional experience demonstrating mastery of animation craft
Expert-level proficiency in Maya (or equivalent 3D animation software) with 5+ years of professional use
Strong experience with at least one major game engine (Unreal Engine 4/5 or Unity) and understanding of how animation assets integrate into gameplay systems
Demonstrated expertise in character animation fundamentals including weight, posing, timing, arcs, anticipation, and follow-through
Proficiency in hand-keyed animation and motion capture workflows (MotionBuilder, Motionvault, or similar)
Advanced knowledge of animation optimization techniques and performance constraints in real-time engines
Strong understanding of gameplay animation systems including locomotion, blending, IK/FK, and root motion
Experience with version control systems (Perforce, Git) and collaborative development workflows
Master understanding of animation principles and classic character animation theory applied to interactive media
Strong sense of game design and gameplay mechanics with ability to recognize how animation serves the player experience
Excellent communication and collaboration skills with ability to work effectively across disciplines
Ability to give and receive constructive feedback with maturity and professionalism
Self-directed and proactive; able to work independently and make decisions aligned with project vision
Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to quality and craftsmanship
Ability to perform well under pressure, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing project requirements
Strong portfolio or demo reel demonstrating range and mastery across gameplay, cinematic, and character performance animation

Nice To Haves

Experience with facial animation, character performance capture, and cinematic sequences
Experience rigging characters and creatures for games
Knowledge of animation design for multiplayer or MMO gameplay systems
Experience with real-time performance capture or VR animation systems
Background in film, visual effects, or game cinematics
Knowledge of emerging animation technologies such as motion matching or procedural animation
Experience mentoring or leading animation teams on large-scale projects
Passion for games and demonstrated engagement with the gaming community

Responsibilities

Create high-quality, production-level character animations that showcase technical excellence and artistic vision
Develop comprehensive animation sets including locomotion, combat, interactions, and cinematic performance animations
Craft expressive character animations that communicate personality, emotion, and identity while supporting compelling gameplay
Work with both hand-keyed and motion capture animation pipelines, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance
Establish and maintain benchmark animations that define visual and technical standards for the project
Support physics, cloth, and other specialized animation systems
Work closely with game designers to understand gameplay mechanics, 3C principles (Character, Controls, Camera), and player experience goals
Collaborate with technical artists and programmers to optimize animation assets for real-time rendering and ensure smooth integration into game systems
Partner with character artists, riggers, and modelers to resolve animation-related issues and improve workflows
Communicate with directors and leads to align animation work with the project's creative vision and style guidelines
Test, review, and iterate on animations to ensure they deliver the intended gameplay experience and visual impact
Mentor junior, mid-level, and senior animators, providing constructive feedback and fostering professional growth
Lead animation reviews and critique sessions, ensuring consistency and quality across all animation work
Define and communicate animation best practices, workflows, and technical standards
Collaborate with leads and other departments to develop animation pipelines and processes that improve efficiency and quality
Act as the technical and artistic authority on animation matters within the studio
Contribute to hiring and onboarding of animation team members
Debug and resolve animation-related issues including rigging problems, motion capture artifacts, and engine integration challenges
Optimize animations for performance, applying advanced techniques like motion matching, root motion, and animation blending
Stay current with animation tools, game engines, and industry best practices
Implement and refine animation graphs, state machines, and system architectures
Master proprietary animation tools and content pipelines specific to the studio's workflow