Principal Animator
Job Summary
Job Description
Creative Assembly is seeking a Principal Animator to join their team for a new project, a sequel to Alien: Isolation. The role involves creating and implementing high-quality animation assets, collaborating with various teams (animation, artists, technical artists, engineers) to refine animations and systems, and mentoring teammates. The animator will also handle day-to-day requests for improvements and bug fixes. The position requires expert hand-key animation skills for creatures and humans, strong communication, self-motivation, teamwork, and a deep understanding of animation pipelines. Proficiency in Maya/Motion Builder and previous AAA title experience are essential. Experience with Unreal Engine, motion matching, facial animation, character setup, and motion capture pipelines are desirable. Applications should ideally include a portfolio.
Must have:
- Expert hand-key animation skills (creatures & humans)
- Excellent communication and teamwork
- Understanding of animation pipelines
- Mentoring and feedback skills
- Proficiency in Maya/Motion Builder
- AAA title experience in a similar role
Good to have:
- Experience with Unreal Engine
- Motion Matching/locomotion systems
- Facial animation experience
- Character setup (rigging/skinning)
- Motion capture pipelines
8 skills required
Job Details
Description
Creative Assembly is looking for a Principal Animator to join our talented team to work on our new project, a sequel to Alien: Isolation. This role will be based at our studio in Horsham, UK and can be offered as hybrid or in-studio.
The Role
As Principal Animator, you will play a crucial role within the animation team, producing best in class animation and showcasing exceptional creative and artistic skills that set a standard for the team to emulate.
Your work will drive character quality in-game, delivering memorable performances that provide players with an engaging and immersive experience.
This is a new project, being built in UE5, with a strong focus on character on an iconic IP. This role offers an exciting opportunity to have a significant impact on that experience.
What you’ll be doing
On a day-to-day basis, you will:
- Create and implement high quality animation assets
- Collaborate with related teams to develop and refine animations and systems from block-out to final implementation, ensuring they integrate seamlessly and meet gameplay requirements.
- Work closely with the animation team, artists, technical artists, and engineers, in helping deliver engaging and immersive characters.
- Embrace opportunities to learn new skills that will enhance your capabilities, elevate the team's performance, and provide innovative solutions to meet project requirements.
- Tackle day-to-day requests for improvements and bug fixes.
What we are looking for
Essential
- Expert hand-key animation skills for both creatures and humans.
- Excellent communication skills, self-motivated and proven ability to work well within a team with a passion for games.
- Excellent understanding of animation pipelines from conceptual phase to deployment.
- Strong ability to communicate clear direction, break down tasks and feedback to help mentor, guide and educate fellow teammates.
- Excellent knowledge of Maya/Motion Builder
- Previously worked on AAA titles in an equivalent role.
Desirable
- Experience with Unreal Engine
- Experience with Motion Matching or equivalent advanced locomotion system
- Experience with facial animation
- Experience with character setup – rigging and skinning
- Experience with motion capture pipelines and shoots
Note: Applications for this role will ideally include a portfolio (or link to a portfolio).
About Creative Assembly
Creative Assembly crafts deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.
We are all game makers and we care deeply about the experiences we create. We empower our teams to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.
We are located in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria.
We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:
Creative Assembly crafts deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades.
We are all game makers and we care deeply about the experiences we create. We empower our teams to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.
We are located in Horsham, UK and Sofia, Bulgaria.
We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:
- Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs)
- Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays
- Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents
- Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
- Generous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all Bank holidays
- Join our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led group
- Season ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on site
- Wellbeing support and virtual confidential counselling
- Community activities including parties, football and more.
- Our studio sites have disabled access.
We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: SEGA Europe Limited and our studios do not accept unsolicited candidate introductions from unauthorised third parties. For the avoidance of doubt, SEGA Europe is not liable for any fees, compensation or any other costs associated with the introduction of a candidate or recruitment services unless and until an agreement has been duly executed. Further details can be found here.
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