Senior Gameplay Animator - M/F/NB - Non annonced Project

Join a small design team at Ubisoft on an unannounced project as a Senior Gameplay Animator. You will be responsible for producing and integrating highly responsive and clear gameplay animations, participating in the development of animation systems for main characters and NPCs, and collaborating closely with game designers and gameplay programmers. The role involves testing, iterating, and optimizing animations to ensure performance and consistency within a small, specialized team environment in Montpellier.

Must Have

• Produce and integrate gameplay animations (combat, locomotion, traversal) with high responsiveness and clarity.
• Adapt animations to gameplay constraints: responsiveness, readability, timing.
• Participate in prototyping and polishing animation systems.
• Contribute to the development of Main Character & NPC animations (combat, behaviors).
• Work closely with Game Designers and Gameplay Programmers.
• Test and iterate on animations to ensure performance and consistency.
• Strong animation background (share your best animations via your Demo Reel).
• Proficiency in Maya.
• Experience with combat and/or creature animations.
• Comfortable with game engines and animation systems.
• Understand project constraints to deliver within production timelines.
• Proactive: push the quality of your work all the way through its in-game context.
• Know how to give and receive feedback with peers and share best practices.
• Stay open to feedback: art direction revisions, gameplay rebalancing, engine optimization, etc.
• Understand the needs of other teams and technical constraints to achieve the best results in the game.
• Can share knowledge with junior profiles.

Good to Have

• Ability to tell a story through your animations.
• Attention to detail and expertise in knowing where to focus your efforts.
• Artistic vision, while staying pragmatic and gameplay-oriented.
• Ability to elevate the artists around you.

Perks & Benefits

• Hybrid work model
• Opportunity to maintain work-life balance

Company Description

Ubisoft is a global leader in gaming with teams across the world creating original and memorable gaming experiences, from Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six to Just Dance and more. We believe diverse perspectives help both players and teams thrive. If you’re passionate about innovation and pushing entertainment boundaries, join our journey and help us create the unknown!

Job Description

Why We Need You:

Join a small design team on an unannounced project alongside a Senior team.

What You Will Do:

Creation and Integration of Gameplay Animations

• Produce and integrate gameplay animations (combat, locomotion, traversal) with a high level of responsiveness and clarity.
• Adapt animations to gameplay constraints: responsiveness, readability, timing.

Development of Gameplay-Oriented Animation Systems

• Participate in prototyping and polishing animation systems up to the final version.
• Contribute to the development of Main Character & NPC animations (combat, behaviors).

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Work closely with:
• Game Designers to ensure gameplay readability and intention.
• Gameplay Programmers for technical integration, optimization, and debugging.

Optimization and Quality

• Test and iterate on animations to ensure performance and consistency.

Your Future Work Environment:

• Small team based in Montpellier.
• Collaboration with specialized senior profiles.
• Animation tools: Maya.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

Key skills for this role

Technical Skills:

• Strong animation background (share your best animations via your Demo Reel).
• Proficiency in Maya.
• Experience with combat and/or creature animations.
• Comfortable with game engines and animation systems.

Reliability & Ownership

• You understand project constraints in order to deliver within production timelines.
• You are proactive: you push the quality of your work all the way through its in-game context.

Team Spirit and Mentoring

• You know how to give and receive feedback with peers and share best practices.
• You stay open to feedback: art direction revisions, gameplay rebalancing, engine optimization, etc.
• You understand the needs of other teams and technical constraints to achieve the best results in the game.
• You can share knowledge with junior profiles.

What Will Make You Successful

• Your ability to tell a story through your animations.
• Your attention to detail… and your expertise in knowing where to focus your efforts.
• Your artistic vision, while staying pragmatic and gameplay-oriented.
• Your ability to elevate the artists around you.

Additional Information

Our Recruitment Process

• Application review: our team will carefully review your profile.
• Quick prequalification (max 30 min by phone): if your profile matches, you’ll have an initial call to validate key points.
• Interview 1: Introduction (1h, online): a conversation with a member of the recruitment team to get to know you better and assess the alignment between your background and our expectations.
• Interview 2: Technical (1h, online): a discussion with two team members, more technically oriented, to dive concretely into the role and speak the same language.

Contract type: Permanent contract

Location: Montpellier

Start date: You can join the team as soon as possible

Remote work:

We embrace a hybrid work model helping you stay connected with your team and aligned with business priorities, while giving you the opportunity to maintain your work-life balance. Note, that some roles are fully office-based and are not eligible for hybrid work.

Check out this guide to help you with your application, and learn about our actions to encourage more diversity and inclusion.