Senior Technical Animator

Gearbox Quebec•Quebec, QC

3d•Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Technical Animator to design, implement, and maintain the in-game animation systems that bring our characters to life. In this role, you'll take ownership of complex animation challenges, drive technical quality across the team, and serve as a go-to expert for animation systems and pipelines. You'll work closely with animators, engineers, and designers to deliver compelling gameplay experiences while mentoring teammates and raising the bar for the department.

Requirements

6+ years of professional experience in technical animation, with shipped or near-shipped game titles.
A deep understanding of first-person shooter mechanics and how in-engine animation systems (like state machines, blendspaces, and animation blueprints) contribute to gameplay feel.
Proficiency with runtime and procedural animation tools, including Animation Blueprints, Control Rig, IK systems, and state machines.
4+ years of experience with Unreal Engine, including scripting with Blueprints and a solid grasp of vector math and core computing concepts.
Excellent problem-solving and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines.
A passion for staying current with the latest advancements in animation technology, demonstrated through a strong portfolio or body of work.

Nice To Haves

Experience shipping at least one AAA title in a senior technical animation capacity.
Familiarity with motion capture pipelines and integration workflows.
Experience mentoring other technical animators or contributing to team-wide standards and documentation.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and optimize in-game animation systems for character locomotion, abilities, combat, and more.
Take ownership of complex, high-impact systems and drive them from concept through delivery.
Choose the right tools and approaches based on project needs, performance constraints, and long-term reuse.
Work with key stakeholders to define clear goals and build scalable animation solutions that make content creation smoother and more efficient.
Partner closely with Animation, Engineering, and Design teams to create a cohesive and immersive gameplay experience.
Translate technical concepts into clear, actionable language for cross-disciplinary partners.
Proactively communicate progress, risks, and dependencies to keep projects on track.
Attend and contribute to project stand-ups, design reviews, and technical alignment meetings.
Perform technical reviews of animation systems, rigs, and blueprints to ensure they meet departmental standards for performance, clarity, and maintainability.
Anticipate challenges early and propose solutions before issues escalate.
Ensure animation systems support both creative vision and technical feasibility.
Document solutions and processes thoroughly so others can understand, use, and extend them.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level technical animators.
Share insights and best practices across the team to promote consistency and avoid duplication.
Help identify patterns, fix systemic issues, and continuously raise the quality bar.
Maintain awareness of ongoing work across projects — especially related to shared tools, pipelines, or tech.
Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in Unreal Engine, Maya, and animation technologies.
Identify opportunities to improve workflows, tools, and processes for the department.