Animation Lead

Unknown Worlds is seeking an Animation Lead for the Subnautica 2 development team. This full-time remote role requires a highly skilled individual with natural leadership, technical, and artistic abilities, and extensive Unreal Engine experience. The lead will inspire and guide a team of animators, collaborate across disciplines, and define animation styles for immersive underwater environments, ensuring high-quality game experiences.

Must Have

• Lead the animation team, providing regular feedback, mentorship and guidance.
• Define, communicate and maintain animation styles across multiple game elements.
• Regularly review animation to ensure work meets aesthetic, quality and technical requirements.
• Collaborate across disciplines to ensure animations enhance and integrate seamlessly into gameplay.
• Develop and maintain animation pipelines alongside tech art and engineering.
• Work with production to set priorities and timeline expectations.
• 5+ years of experience in the games industry in an animation leadership role.
• At least two shipped titles, one developed in Unreal Engine.
• Strong art fundamentals and deep understanding of animation principles and techniques.
• High proficiency with Unreal Engine (preferably UE5) and its animation systems (Blueprint, Sequencer).
• Deep understanding of character rigging and skinning techniques (IK, FK, procedural technologies).
• Experience evaluating animation project needs and resourcing.
• Self-motivated with excellent leadership, communication, and technical problem-solving skills.
• Expertise in keyframe animation techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of animation software like Blender, MotionBuilder, Maya.

Good to Have

• Experience animating assets for underwater or zero gravity game environments.
• Experience working with external outsource animation partners.
• Solid understanding of gameplay movement mechanics and game feel.
• Experience with early access or other open development processes.

Perks & Benefits

• Annual professional development stipend
• Home office stipends
• Paid time off for volunteer/non-profit work

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a highly skilled animation lead to join the Subnautica 2 development team. Our ideal candidate exhibits natural leadership skills, a high degree of technical and artistic skill, and has extensive experience working in Unreal Engine. This role offers the opportunity to lead and inspire a team of animators while collaborating across all disciplines to create incredible game experiences. This is a unique opportunity to create animations and character movement in immersive underwater environments.

This is a full time remote position on a globally distributed team.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the animation team, providing regular feedback, mentorship and guidance to promote their professional and creative growth.
• Define, communicate and maintain animation styles across multiple elements of the game from creatures and humanoids to technical and machine based assets.
• Regularly review animation to ensure work meets aesthetic, quality and technical requirements with an eye towards game feel and performance.
• Collaborate across disciplines to ensure animations enhance and integrate seamlessly into gameplay.
• Develop and maintain animation pipelines alongside tech art and engineering to optimize workflow and efficiency.
• Work with production to set priorities and timeline expectations with the team on a per milestone basis.
• Create high quality animations for characters, creatures, vehicles and other game assets as time allows.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in the games industry in an animation leadership role.
• At least two shipped titles, one of them developed in Unreal Engine.
• Strong art fundamentals, and deep understanding of animation principles and techniques.
• High level of proficiency with Unreal Engine (preferably UE5) and its animation systems including Blueprint and Sequencer.
• Deep understanding of character rigging and skinning techniques and processes including IK, FK, and procedural technologies.
• Experience evaluating animation project needs and resourcing that work.
• Self-motivated with excellent leadership and communication, and technical problem solving skills.
• Expertise in keyframe animation techniques.
• Extensive knowledge of animation software like Blender, MotionBuilder, Maya, etc. Proficiency in Blender is strongly preferred.

PREFERENCES

• Experience animating assets for underwater or zero gravity game environments.
• Experience working with external outsource animation partners.
• Solid understanding of gameplay movement mechanics and game feel.
• Experience with early access or other open development processes.

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We make games that are accessible and engaging for players all over the world. We believe in hiring and supporting the most talented and creative people of diverse backgrounds. That support includes annual professional development and home office stipends, as well as paid time off for volunteer/non-profit work. Join us and be a part of our growing and innovative studio.

Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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