Senior Animator

IronSpark • Birmingham, AL

13h • Onsite

About The Position

IronSpark is seeking a Senior Animator to bring characters, narrative moments, and interactive experiences to life. The role works closely with cross-disciplinary teams to turn concepts into emotionally resonant, high-impact animations, from early concepting through final polish. It is an in-person contract position based at the company’s Birmingham, Alabama studio, with a flexible daily work environment and options of 3, 6, or 12 months. The schedule is up to 40 hours per week, and compensation is an hourly rate proportionate to experience.

Requirements

• 7–10 years of professional animation experience in animation, game development, or interactive media.
• Deep proficiency in Maya and Unreal Engine.
• Strong focus on hand-keyed animation, body mechanics, facial performance, and expressive character movement.
• A portfolio or reel demonstrating senior-level animation skills, with a clear breakdown sheet detailing the applicant’s specific contributions.
• Mastery of animation principles, composition, dynamic posing, and emotional staging.
• Ability to work independently and manage project priorities without constant oversight.
• Excellent communication skills, a team-first attitude, and comfort receiving creative direction and 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 previs and prototype animation concepts to explore ideas, solve creative challenges, and refine scene compositions.
• Estimate production timelines, manage workload independently, and meet established deadlines.
• Participate in creative reviews, incorporate feedback, and refine assets to align with project direction.
• Share knowledge, provide technical and creative solutions, and help guide junior team members.

Benefits

• Opportunity to shape processes, tools, and culture from the ground floor.
• Direct access to founders and subject matter experts.
• Input into the product, processes, and company decisions.
• Broad exposure to work across functions.
• Opportunity to learn through solving new problems.
• Low-bureaucracy decision-making.
• Room to experiment and iterate.
• Flexible hours or schedule.
• Remote or hybrid options.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed