Senior Technical Animation Designer

2K•San Mateo, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining animation systems that drive the gameplay motion of our characters. This will include features that support major gameplay mechanics, such as locomotion and abilities, UI selection animations, and procedural solutions. You will be a communication hub in addition to the technical aspect of the job. You’ll need to ensure that everyone has the information they need to be successful. This role is focused on technical animation, but will also work with design and engineering teams to translate needs across those subject areas.

Requirements

Shipped at least one AAA title with 4+ years of professional animation experience in Maya
Strong understanding of third-person shooter mechanics and in-engine animation systems (state machines, blendspaces, animation graphs)
Proficient with run-time and procedural animation tools such as IK, Control Rig, retargeting, ragdolls, and motion matching
Experienced in Unreal Engine (2+ years), including scripting with Blueprints and/or C++, and solid foundation in vector math and code concepts.
Skilled at bridging disciplines with strong problem-solving and communication abilities.
Continuously up to date with the latest in Unreal, Maya, and animation technologies; portfolio demonstrating expertise.

Responsibilities

Collaborate closely with teams across Animation, Engineering, and Design to help deliver a cohesive, high-quality animation style that supports an immersive gameplay experience.
Work with key stakeholders to define goals and implement scalable solutions that streamline animation content creation and integration.
Take initiative in building and refining animation systems, carefully balancing performance needs with desired in-game behaviors.
Provide and offer technical support and mentorship to animators, contributing to their development while promoting effective cross-disciplinary communication.
Regularly document processes and share insights to help improve team workflows and knowledge sharing.