Senior Gameplay Animator

The role

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Gameplay Animator to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in creating realistic and dynamic character animations, with extensive experience working in Unreal Engine 5. As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will play a crucial role in bringing our game characters to life, ensuring fluid and responsive animations that enhance the player experience.

Responsibilities

Gameplay Animation:

• Create high-quality, realistic character animations for gameplay, ensuring they meet the artistic vision and technical requirements of the project.
• Work closely with game designers, programmers, and other animators to develop and refine character movement, combat, and interaction animations.
• Implement animations directly into Unreal Engine 5, utilizing its advanced tools and features to ensure seamless integration and performance.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Collaborate with the art and design teams to understand the animation needs and deliver animations that align with the overall game design.
• Participate in motion capture (mocap) sessions, directing and refining mocap data to achieve the desired animation quality.
• Maintain clear and consistent communication with team members to ensure alignment and resolve any animation-related issues.

Optimization & Performance:

• Optimize animations for performance and memory, ensuring they run smoothly on the target platforms.
• Troubleshoot and resolve any animation-related technical challenges that arise during development.

Mentorship & Leadership:

• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior animators, sharing knowledge and best practices to help elevate the team's overall skill level.
• Lead by example, demonstrating a high level of professionalism, creativity, and technical expertise.

Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience as a gameplay animator in the video game industry, with at least 2 years working in Unreal Engine 4/5.
• Animation Skills: Strong understanding of animation principles, with a proven ability to create realistic and fluid character animations.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient in using Unreal Engine 5 for animation implementation, including working with animation blueprints, blend spaces, and state machines.
• Software Knowledge: Proficient in animation software such as Maya, MotionBuilder, or equivalent tools.
• Problem-Solving: Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve animation-related issues.
• Collaboration: Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.
• Portfolio: A portfolio demonstrating your gameplay animation work, including examples of animations implemented in Unreal Engine.

Sharkmob London is a brand-new AAA studio in the heart of London, with aspirations to build one of the largest and most creatively ambitious development teams in the world. Just like the original Sharkmob studio in Malmö, Sharkmob London was founded by a team of industry veterans. As a part of Tencent Games we have the experience, backing, and ambition to build the games of the future! 

At Sharkmob, we are committed to building an inclusive team that represents diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skillsets – because we believe that helps us create great games. We welcome all candidates that are aligned with our core values of shared ownership, smart decisions and last but not least – having fun!

Remuneration and benefits

• Competitive salaries based on up-to-date data from external benchmarking providers & reviewed annually.
• 30 days annual leave, in addition to all UK Bank Holidays.
• Hybrid work-from-home policy.
• Discretionary annual performance-based bonus.
• Private pension (10% total, up to 5% individual contribution matched by Sharkmob).
• BUPA private Healthcare, Cigna dental cover, life insurance scheme and income protection policy.
• £425 yearly preventative healthcare allowance.
• Core studio hours 10:00-16:00 with 1 'wellness hour' to be used per week.
• Daily breakfasts, snacks & refreshments at the studio.
• VISA sponsorship (individual & dependents).
• Relocation assistance for people outside the UK (1 month accommodation, flights/travel paid for, £2,500 logistics/removal costs reimbursed).
• Assistance for people relocating within the UK (up to £2,000 to spend on travel into London for flat viewings and moving vans/couriers).