Senior Technical Animator

Cloud Chamber • Novato, CA

5d • Remote

About The Position

As a Senior Technical Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will help shape advanced animation systems and runtime character performance in Unreal Engine 5. You will work with game developers to build scalable technical solutions and animation workflows that support immersive gameplay and bring the world of BioShock to life.

You will implement and configure animation assets and systems in Unreal Engine 5; author, maintain, and optimize complex Animation Blueprints and runtime procedural systems; and tune and troubleshoot Motion Matching and advanced locomotion systems. You will ensure animation assets, runtime systems, and editor frameworks meet performance and memory-efficiency needs, diagnose technical animation issues spanning Maya and the game engine, and work with animation and engineering leads to refine pipelines, document tools and processes, and mentor team members.

The role involves close, constructive collaboration across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to overcome development challenges and deliver a AAA experience. The successful candidate communicates effectively, works proactively and autonomously, responds constructively to feedback, and contributes to a positive, respectful team culture.

The California pay range at the start of employment is $108,900–$161,160 USD per year. Base pay may vary based on location and individualized job-related factors. Total compensation may also include a bonus and/or equity awards, and eligibility to participate in the company’s 401(k) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular full-time employees are eligible for the listed benefits. Candidates located in Quebec must be professionally proficient in both French and English.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional technical animation experience in video game development.
• At least one shipped AAA title.
• Deep practical knowledge of UE5 animation toolsets, including Animation Blueprints, Control Rigs, Montages, Notifies, and the Rewind Debugger.
• Thorough understanding of procedural runtime animation technologies such as Motion Matching, Motion Warping, Control Rigs, Full-Body IK, Retargeting, Ragdoll, and Cloth.
• Solid grasp of human anatomy and kinesiology, including how skeletal mechanics drive deformation rigs and realistic performance.
• Understanding of traditional animation principles and how to apply them within real-time gameplay constraints.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex ideas to diverse audiences and provide difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
• Experience working in cross-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to remain effective and maintain quality under pressure, ambiguity, and changing priorities.
• Ability to listen actively, build trust-based relationships, navigate differing perspectives, and handle organizational complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
• Openness to feedback and direction, willingness to learn, and ability to produce timely, high-quality revisions.
• Ownership of tasks, ability to drive work forward autonomously, and strong attention to detail and organization.
• For candidates located in Quebec, professional proficiency in both French and English, including English for collaboration with U.S. teams and international partners and for specialized technical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Implement and configure animation assets and systems directly in Unreal Engine 5.
• Author, maintain, and optimize complex Animation Blueprints and runtime procedural systems, including cloth, IK, and secondary dynamics.
• Tune, refine, and troubleshoot Motion Matching and advanced locomotion systems to deliver fluid, responsive movement.
• Optimize animation assets, runtime systems, and editor frameworks for runtime performance and memory efficiency.
• Diagnose and resolve technical animation issues spanning Maya and the game engine.
• Partner with animation and engineering leads to refine authoring pipelines and document tools and processes.
• Mentor team members in technical animation best practices.
• Collaborate across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize creative goals and address development obstacles.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan eligibility
• Employee Stock Purchase Program eligibility
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Basic life insurance
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid vacation time of 15 to 25 days per calendar year or eligibility for the company’s discretionary time off program
• Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year
• Paid parental and compassionate leave
• Mental health and other wellness support programs
• Family planning support through Maven
• Commuter benefits
• Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses
• Potential bonus and/or equity awards

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed