Senior Animator

Job Summary

We are on the lookout for a Senior Animator!

The Senior Animator is responsible for creating high-quality character, environment, and gameplay animations that align with the creative vision of the project. This role combines hands-on animation production with ownership of complex gameplay features, quality benchmarking, and mentorship of other animators.

The Senior Animator works closely with the Lead Animator, Technical Animators, Design, and Engineering teams to ensure animations are visually compelling, technically sound, and seamlessly integrated into the game engine.

Responsibilities

Create high-quality character, creature, and gameplay animations aligned with the project’s artistic direction.

Own complex animation features and gameplay systems from concept to final engine integration.

Ensure animation style, quality, and consistency meet creative and technical standards.

Collaborate with the Lead Animator to help define and maintain animation quality benchmarks.

Contribute to the development and refinement of animation pipelines, workflows, and best practices.

Work closely with Technical Animators to ensure smooth implementation, state machine logic, and performance optimization.

Provide clear, constructive feedback during animation reviews to support team quality.

Proactively identify animation risks and propose effective production-ready solutions.

Ensure animations are responsive, polished, and enhance gameplay feel and player experience.

Optimize animations to meet real-time performance requirements.

Support production planning by accurately estimating tasks and delivering assets on schedule.

Mentor mid-level and junior animators, fostering growth and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Proven experience as a Senior Animator in the game industry or on real-time projects.

Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality character and gameplay animation for shipped titles.

Expert knowledge of animation principles, body mechanics, timing, weight, and performance acting.

Advanced proficiency with industry-standard Autodesk animation tools (e.g., Maya, MotionBuilder).

Strong understanding of real-time animation pipelines and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine).

Experience with animation state machines, blend trees, and gameplay animation systems.

Experience integrating animations directly into game engines.

Ability to provide clear, constructive, and actionable feedback.

Strong problem-solving skills and production awareness.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Fluency in written and spoken English.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience shipping at least one AAA/AA game title.

Knowledge of motion capture pipelines, data cleanup, and retargeting.

Experience collaborating closely with Technical Animation on rigs, tools, and pipeline optimization.

Experience working on combat systems or complex gameplay mechanics.

Experience optimizing animations for performance in real-time environments.

Passion for games and strong understanding of player experience and gameplay feel.

Competencies

Advanced character and gameplay animation skills with strong artistic sensibility.

Deep understanding of real-time animation systems and gameplay responsiveness.

Ability to set and maintain high-quality standards across animation deliverables.

Experience managing animation tasks from concept to final engine implementation.

Ability to evaluate animation quality and refine work to production-ready standards.

Strong collaboration skills across Design, Engineering, Art, and Technical teams.

Ability to balance creative ambition with technical constraints and performance targets.

Strong decision-making skills when prioritizing animation tasks and quality improvements.

Soft Skills

Leadership mindset with the ability to guide and support other animators.

Clear, respectful, and effective communication across departments.

Comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving production environment.

Proactive, solution-oriented approach to challenges.

Excellent organization and prioritization under tight deadlines.

Strong artistic sensitivity and passion for animation.

Team-oriented attitude with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

Motivation to stay updated on animation trends, tools, and industry best practices.

Submit your resume and a short cover letter in English to join Stormind Games.