Lead Technical Animator

2 Hours ago • 8 Years + • Animation

Job Summary

Job Description

CD PROJEKT RED is seeking a Lead Technical Animator for their new project, Project Sirius, set in The Witcher universe. The Lead Technical Animator will be responsible for creating and driving animation systems for characters, monsters, and environments, working closely with artists and engineers for optimization. Responsibilities include solving complex technical challenges, defining animation processes, maintaining pipelines, briefing and reviewing outsourced work, collaborating with other animation teams, estimating and planning work, staying current on animation technology, and managing a team of technical animators. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 8 years of experience as a Technical Animator, including at least 1 year in a leadership role, with experience shipping an AAA title. Strong skills in rigging, facial animation, and optimization are essential, alongside excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
Must have:
  • 8+ years experience as Technical Animator (1+ year leadership)
  • AAA title shipping experience
  • Rigging in Maya & MotionBuilder, UE5/Blueprint
  • Facial animation, Lip-sync expertise
  • Animation asset optimization
  • Excellent communication & collaboration skills
Good to have:
  • Motion matching experience
  • Scripting (Python, LUA)
  • Portfolio demonstrating expertise
Perks:
  • Company-paid healthcare (dental, vision, mental)
  • Paid leave (20 days/year)
  • 401k with employer matching
  • Gym membership reimbursement
  • Flexible working hours
  • Training opportunities
  • Dog-friendly office
  • International work environment

Job Details

Company Description

To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers — this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company’s culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!

Job Description

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Lead Technical Animator to join our studio to work on Project Sirius - an ambitious and exciting new project set in The Witcher universe. As a Lead Technical Animator, you will play a key role in shaping the visual identity of Project Sirius.

Responsibilities

  • Create and drive animation systems for characters, monsters, and environment.
  • Work closely with artists and engineers to create highly optimized animation systems.
  • Solve complex technical challenges.
  • Define and document technical animation processes, tools, and best practices.
  • Maintaining the animation pipeline.
  • Write and prepare briefs for work with outsource vendors, and review work as necessary.
  • Communicate and cooperate with other CDPR animation teams while pursuing common goals.
  • Engage with Directors and Production to estimate and plan work.
  • Stay atop modern and cutting edge animation technology.
  • Build a growing Technical Animation via recruiting, interviewing, and hiring.
  • Act as the direct manager for team members, conducting reviews, mentoring, and helping them achieve personal and professional growth.
  • Cultivate a positive, collaborative team culture aligned with the company’s values and goals.
  • Partner with the Production department to establish plans and ensure timely delivery of work.

Qualifications

  • Ability to work independently to identify and own work, deliver results.
  • Minimum 8 years of experience as a Technical Animator with at least 1 year in a leadership role. 
  • Shipped at least one AAA title.
  • Extensive experience with rigging in Maya and Motion Builder, UE5/Blueprint, facial animation, and lipsync.
  • Familiarity with motion capture technology
  • Experience optimizing animation assets, rigs, and systems for high runtime performance and efficiency
  • Comprehensive portfolio demonstrating expertise.
  • Meticulous attention to detail, especially with character deformation and physics.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
  • Positive attitude towards receiving feedback and exchanging knowledge.
  • Able to deliver and receive feedback in a productive and accountable manner.

Nice to have:

  • Experience with Motion matching.
  • Scripting proficiency in languages such as Python, LUA, etc.

 

Additional Information

This job can be hybrid/in-office from Boston or fully remote. 

Health & Well-being

  • Company paid medical healthcare (dental vision & mental).
  • Paid Leave — 20 days of holiday for every team member per year (26 days after two years).
  • No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.
  • 401K with employer matching.
  • Gym Membership Reimbursement.

Perks & Professional Growth

  • Flexible working hours.
  • Trainings, lectures and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There’s always something to learn!
  • Merch — gifts for newborn rebels and regular chances to nab some cool swag!
  • A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office

  • Dog-friendly office — dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.
  • Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
     

If you have observed any irregularities in our recruitment process please click here to report them.

Similar Jobs

PlayStation Global - Environment Artist

PlayStation Global

Los Angeles, California, United States (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Ubisoft - Directeur.trice Technique, Personnages (F/H/NB) [Project AAA]

Ubisoft

Annecy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (On-Site)
5 Months ago
Rebellion - Animation Director

Rebellion

Oxford, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
1 Week ago
DNEG - Creature TD - CFX

DNEG

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
1 Week ago
TRACK VFX - Vancouver Pipeline TD

TRACK VFX

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Framestore - Creature FX TD - Launchpad Internship 2025

Framestore

England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Virtuos - Senior Rigger (3-Month FTC)

Virtuos

Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland (Remote)
1 Week ago
2K - Principal Gameplay Animation Engineer

2K

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)
8 Months ago
DNEG - Animation TD (DNEG Animation)

DNEG

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
5 Months ago
Rockstar Games - Animation Systems Programmer

Rockstar Games

Oakville, Ontario, Canada (On-Site)
1 Week ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Similar Skill Jobs

That's No Moon - Lead Environment Concept Artist

That's No Moon

Los Angeles, California, United States (Remote)
1 Week ago
Ubisoft - Technical Animation Director

Ubisoft

Annecy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Zoox - Software Engineer - 3D World Generation Pipelines

Zoox

Seattle, Washington, United States (Hybrid)
5 Months ago
Fortis Games - Staff Animator

Fortis Games

United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Month ago
The Walt Disney Company - Technical Assistant

The Walt Disney Company

London, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
1 Week ago
Track vfx - Vancouver | Matchmove Artist | Senior

Track vfx

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)
6 Months ago
Flying Bark Productions - Rigging & Animation Software Developer

Flying Bark Productions

New South Wales, Australia (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Valve corporation - 3D Environment Artist

Valve corporation

Bellevue, Washington, United States (On-Site)
5 Months ago
Lighthouse Games - Lead Concept Artist

Lighthouse Games

England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Week ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Jobs in Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Corsair - Demand Planning Intern

Corsair

Milpitas, California, United States (On-Site)
1 Week ago
CharacterAI - Software Engineer, Machine Learning Infrastructure

CharacterAI

New York, New York, United States (On-Site)
1 Week ago
The Pokemon Company International - Paralegal & Music Administrator

The Pokemon Company International

Bellevue, Washington, United States (Hybrid)
2 Months ago
Linden Lab - Customer Success Specialist

Linden Lab

Atlanta, Georgia, United States (On-Site)
2 Months ago
The Walt Disney Company - Principal Software Engineer

The Walt Disney Company

Burbank, California, United States (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Snail Games - SEC Financial Reporting

Snail Games

Culver City, California, United States (On-Site)
1 Month ago
ByteDance - Experienced Long-term Incentive Partner

ByteDance

San Jose, California, United States (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Hypixel Studios - Principal Engineer - Project Technical Lead

Hypixel Studios

Seattle, Washington, United States (Remote)
5 Months ago
Twitch - Senior Product Manager - Ads

Twitch

Seattle, Washington, United States (Remote)
7 Months ago
The Walt Disney Company - Senior Security Specialist - Governance

The Walt Disney Company

Orlando, Florida, United States (On-Site)
1 Week ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Animation Jobs

Ubisoft - Animator

Ubisoft

Pune, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Easy Brain - 2D Unity Animator

Easy Brain

Limassol, Limassol, Cyprus (Hybrid)
6 Months ago
SKYDANCE - Senior Software Engineer

SKYDANCE

Madrid, Community Of Madrid, Spain (Hybrid)
4 Weeks ago
Moonbug Entertainment - Production Coordinator, Brands

Moonbug Entertainment

California, United States (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
AGBO - Senior Rigging Technical Director

AGBO

Los Angeles, California, United States (On-Site)
7 Months ago
Sony Pictures Animation - Custom Animation Production Coordinator

Sony Pictures Animation

Culver City, California, United States (On-Site)
2 Months ago
CD PROJEKT RED - Senior Gameplay Animator

CD PROJEKT RED

Boston, Massachusetts, United States (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Rockstar Games - Animation R&D Programmer: Retargeting

Rockstar Games

New York, New York, United States (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Ubisoft - Animator

Ubisoft

Pune, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
1 Week ago
Flying Bark Productions - Senior Lookdev Artist

Flying Bark Productions

New South Wales, Australia (Hybrid)
2 Weeks ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

About The Company

CD PROJEKT RED is home to over 1000 game-making professionals from all over the globe. We speak many different languages, but share one love — video games.


We are creators of The Witcher series of games, including the acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Most recently, we have created Cyberpunk 2077 and its spy-thriller expansion Phantom Liberty.


We are headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, with studios in Cracow and Wroclaw. In North America, we operate in Vancouver and will be opening a new studio in Boston to drive development on the followup to Cyberpunk 2077. 


We’re proud to have a gamer-first approach, a diverse & supportive culture, and a focus on mature, meaningful storytelling that will inspire gamers for years to come.


Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Hybrid)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Hybrid)

Massachusetts, United States (Hybrid)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Hybrid)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (On-Site)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (On-Site)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (On-Site)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Remote)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (On-Site)

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (On-Site)

View All Jobs

Get notified when new jobs are added by CD PROJEKT RED

Level Up Your Career in Game Development!

Transform Your Passion into Profession with Our Comprehensive Courses for Aspiring Game Developers.

Job Common Plug