Principal Gameplay Animator

3 Months ago • All levels • Animation

Job Summary

Job Description

Firesprite studio seeks a Principal Gameplay Animator to craft high-quality animation assets and systems for a dark, story-driven next-gen Narrative Adventure game. Responsibilities include creating keyframe and motion capture animation, overseeing animation systems, refining digital content creation tools, collaborating with teams on animation workflows, and contributing to project animation goals. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience as a Principal Animator on PC or console titles, a strong understanding of motion matching and state machines, and expertise in Maya/Motion Builder and Unreal Engine or similar. The role involves bringing believable human/non-human animation to life, focusing on character expression and player immersion, and setting a new bar for gameplay character animation.
Must have:
  • Principal Animator experience (PC/Console)
  • Motion Matching expertise
  • State machine development
  • Keyframe & mocap animation skills
  • Maya/Motion Builder proficiency
  • Unreal Engine or similar experience
Good to have:
  • Creature/animal animation
  • Python scripting
  • Facial animation
  • Rigging
  • Previs & prototyping
  • Mocap planning/directing
Perks:
  • Discretionary bonus
  • Hybrid Working
  • Private Medical Insurance
  • Dental Scheme
  • 25 days holiday
  • Cycle garage & showers

Job Details

Why PlayStation?

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation.

Role Overview:

We're looking for a Principal Gameplay Animator to join our Firesprite studio to bring the world of a dark, story-driven next generation ‘Narrative Adventure’ to life. Working closely with other teams, you’ll develop and deliver playable animations to the highest quality possible.

We’re striving for a specificity of character and emotion that delivers distinct performance, heightens player immersion, and sets a new bar for gameplay character animation. As a part of the animation team, you will be instrumental in bringing that ambition to life.

With genre-defining goals, this title has AAA ambitions and a strong focus on character. We are taking atmosphere, storytelling, player-agency and narrative into ground-breaking territory, on next-gen technology.

We would consider hybrid and remote working (UK).

What you'll be doing:

In this Principal position, you will build high quality gameplay animation assets and systems. You’ll find creative solutions, artistic, technical or both, to deliver that specificity on a range of characters and other animated elements.

  • Craft believable human / non-human keyframe and motion capture animation.
  • Take charge of animation system and/or design features – oversee systems and ensuring they get delivered to the highest quality.
  • Revising and refining digital content creation and in-engine tools – establish tools and develop pipelines.
  • Work with related teams on block-out to final animations and systems, that work seamlessly with non-gameplay animation if required.
  • Contribute to the artistic & technical gameplay animation goals for the project.
  • Collaborate with all teams on animation workflows & pipeline development.

What we're looking for:

  • Experience as a Principal Animator on at least one PC or console title.
  • Experience with Motion Matching with a strong understanding of its utilization and limitations.
  • State Machines development by creating and maintaining them.
  • Proven knowledge of animation principles and a focus on dynamic poses, strong in keyframe animation and mocap methods.
  • A deep understanding of human behaviour and a strong sense of expressing character through movement.
  • Experienced in developing animation for game engines and movement systems; Working with motion capture data and relevant pipelines; working with Unreal Engine or similar.
  • Excellent knowledge of Maya/Motion Builder.
  • Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.

Desirable skills:

  • Experience of animating creatures or animals.
  • Python script.
  • Facial animation experience.
  • Rigging experience.
  • Previs and prototyping experience.
  • Experience and participation in motion capture for gameplay animation – planning, directing and reviewing data.
  • Knowledge UE4 or similar engines.

Benefits:

  • Discretionary bonus opportunity
  • Hybrid Working (within Flexmodes)
  • Private Medical Insurance
  • Dental Scheme
  • 25 days holiday per year
  • Access to cycle garage and showers

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond. 

PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

Similar Jobs

Handy games - 3D Character Animator

Handy games

Giebelstadt, Bavaria, Germany (On-Site)
2 Months ago
CD PROJEKT RED - Cinematic Animator, Open World

CD PROJEKT RED

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Remote)
1 Month ago
Ubisoft - Directeur.trice Technique Animation (F/H/NB) [Assassin's Creed Franchise]

Ubisoft

Annecy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (On-Site)
10 Months ago
Rockstar Games - Associate Principal Technical Artist: Performance Capture

Rockstar Games

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Sandbox VR - Shift Lead (Key Holder)

Sandbox VR

Seattle, Washington, United States (On-Site)
2 Years ago
Sega (UK) - Lead Technical Animator

Sega (UK)

Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria (Hybrid)
3 Weeks ago
Epic Games - Technical Animation Artist

Epic Games

(On-Site)
2 Months ago
undefined - Animator

Gurugram, Haryana, India (On-Site)
1 Year ago
Outfit7 - Animation Student Internship

Outfit7

Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Epic Games - Senior Animator

Epic Games

(On-Site)
5 Months ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Similar Skill Jobs

Warhorse Studios - Senior Motion Capture Operator

Warhorse Studios

Prague, Prague, Czechia (On-Site)
9 Months ago
Rockstar Games - Associate Principal Technical Artist: Performance Capture Pipeline

Rockstar Games

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)
8 Months ago
Epic Games - Senior Animator

Epic Games

(On-Site)
2 Months ago
Sega (UK) - Lead Technical Animator

Sega (UK)

Sofia, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria (Hybrid)
3 Weeks ago
Activision - Animator

Activision

Shanghai, China (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Ubisoft - Animator (1 Year Contract)

Ubisoft

Pune, Maharashtra, India (On-Site)
3 Months ago
People Can Fly - Business Development Manager

People Can Fly

Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Hybrid)
2 Months ago
CD PROJEKT RED - Specialist/Senior Cinematic Designer

CD PROJEKT RED

Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Sandbox VR - Shift Lead (Key Holder)

Sandbox VR

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States (On-Site)
2 Years ago
CD PROJEKT RED - Senior Gameplay Animator

CD PROJEKT RED

Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Hybrid)
2 Months ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Jobs in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

cirrus logic - Verification Engineer (PS)

cirrus logic

Newbury, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
Scale AI - Machine Learning Engineer, Enterprise

Scale AI

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
2 Months ago
SEGA - Senior People Partner

SEGA

Horsham, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
3 Weeks ago
Just wont die - Senior Concept Artist

Just wont die

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom (Remote)
1 Month ago
Tide - Senior Country Commercial Manager

Tide

United Kingdom (Hybrid)
1 Month ago
FICO - Senior Business Operations Analyst

FICO

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Maverick Games - Principal Rendering Engineer

Maverick Games

Warwick, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
5 Months ago
Rockstar Games - Associate QA Tester: Online Services (Night Shift)

Rockstar Games

Lincoln, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
5 Months ago
cirrus logic - Staff PDK Engineer

cirrus logic

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (Hybrid)
7 Months ago
Rockstar Games - Principal Technical Artist: Animation

Rockstar Games

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom (On-Site)
1 Month ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

Animation Jobs

Rockstar Games - Animator: Narrative Gameplay (Mid Level)

Rockstar Games

Oakville, Ontario, Canada (On-Site)
1 Month ago
Playground Games - Lead Gameplay Animator

Playground Games

Royal Leamington Spa, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)
6 Months ago
Quantic Dream - Senior Technical Gameplay Animator (H/F/NB)

Quantic Dream

Paris, Île-de-France, France (Hybrid)
8 Months ago
Nintendo - Cinematic Technical Animator (Retro Studios)

Nintendo

United States (Remote)
11 Months ago
Bigchild studios - Blender Animator

Bigchild studios

Germany (On-Site)
2 Weeks ago
Rockstar Games - Senior Animation Systems Programmer

Rockstar Games

Oakville, Ontario, Canada (On-Site)
3 Months ago
Ubisoft - Senior Gameplay Animator

Ubisoft

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Hybrid)
2 Months ago
Ubisoft - Animator

Ubisoft

Shanghai, Shanghai, China (On-Site)
2 Months ago
Krafton - Senior Gameplay Animator - Viewmodel

Krafton

Madison, Wisconsin, United States (On-Site)
3 Weeks ago
Big Ant Studios - Senior Animator

Big Ant Studios

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (On-Site)
8 Months ago

Get notifed when new similar jobs are uploaded

About The Company

Want to take your career to the next level? Search open job vacancies at any of the Sony Interactive sites by visiting playstation.com/careers/


Sony Interactive Entertainment pushes the boundaries of entertainment and innovation, starting from the launch of the original PlayStation in Japan in 1994. Today, we continue to deliver innovative and thrilling experiences to a global audience through our PlayStation line of products and services that include generation-defining hardware, pioneering network services, and award-winning games. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, with global functions in California, London, and Tokyo, and game development studios around the world as part of PlayStation Studios, we believe that the power of play is borderless. Sony Interactive Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.  


For more information about our company, please visit SonyInteractive.com. For more information about PlayStation products, please visit PlayStation.com.

Carlsbad, California, United States (On-Site)

Los Angeles, California, United States (Remote)

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

Aliso Viejo, California, United States (On-Site)

Carlsbad, California, United States (On-Site)

Madison, Wisconsin, United States (Hybrid)

San Mateo, California, United States (Hybrid)

São Paulo, State Of São Paulo, Brazil (Hybrid)

London, England, United Kingdom (On-Site)

View All Jobs

Get notified when new jobs are added by PlayStation Global

Level Up Your Career in Game Development!

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

Job Common Plug