Animator

Overview

id Software, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is seeking a mid-level animator to join our team, full-time in-house at our Richardson, TX studio (near Dallas). Our team is composed of industry veterans and rising talents who share a passion for art, storytelling and innovation and we strive to push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming with every project. In this role, you will play a crucial part in bringing our gameplay and narrative to life by creating character, first-person animations, narrative sequences, cinematics. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both gameplay, character, and first-person animations, and showcasing a portfolio that demonstrates proficiency in creating both realistic and stylized animations.

Responsibilities

Animation:

• Create high-quality bipedal and quadrupedal animations using mocap and keyframe animation techniques.
• Create high-quality first-person animations using keyframe animation techniques.
• Previs, prototype, and polish gameplay mechanics for character and player animations.
• Create strong narrative animations using a mix of first person and characters.
• Collaborate with character designers, modelers, and directors to ensure animations complement the visual style and personality of the characters.
• Work with rigging to identify and troubleshoot issues when necessary.

Collaboration:

• Work collaboratively with cross-disciplinary teams, including artists, designers, and engineers, to achieve a cohesive and polished final product.
• Provide and receive constructive feedback to maintain a positive and iterative creative process.
• Participate in animation feedback among the animation team and in review.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in industry-standard animation tools (e.g., Maya, Blender, or equivalent).
• Experience with motion-capture processes and data integration.
• Familiarity with game engines (e.g., idTech, Unity or Unreal Engine) and animation implementation pipelines.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional experience in game animation or a related field.
• Strong portfolio showcasing first person and character animations for video games.
• Solid understanding of animation principles and body mechanics
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to adapt to evolving project needs and timelines.
• Bachelor’s degree in Animation or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Salary Range

Senior Animator - The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $55,000 - $140,000 per year.

ZeniMax has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States, which allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets. The range above reflects the potential base pay across the U.S. for this role; the applicable base pay range will depend on what ultimately is determined to be the candidate’s primary work location. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.

At ZeniMax certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, such as merit increases and discretionary bonuses. These awards are allocated based on individual performance and are not guaranteed. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of employment with ZeniMax and the country work location. U.S.-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation time, paid sick and mental health time, and several paid holidays, among others.