Senior Technical Animator

At Turtle Rock, we make the games we want to play. We're dedicated to providing a collaborative environment where our team members feel empowered with the creative freedom to contribute and grow. While we are based in Orange County, CA, we support flexible work arrangements ranging from in-studio, hybrid, to fully remote throughout North America. Join our award-winning game development team and help create our next AAA title.

We are looking for a Senior Technical Animator to join our team! Working with animators, engineers, and designers, this role focuses on developing and improving animation features in engine, implementing assets, and optimizing current animation systems, tools, and practices. Join our exceptional development team to help us create industry leading animation and gameplay experiences! This position will report to the Lead Technical Artist. 

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain animation blueprints, blendspaces, and montages within Unreal
• Construct and maintain rigs for unique characters through the development process
• Support and implement animation content, and fine tune parameters for gameplay animation
• Work directly with Programming, Animation, and Design to prototype and deliver excellent combat, character locomotion and movement mechanics, facial animation, and
• other new game features to deliver extremely polished gameplay and animation. Help to determine risk/reward throughout the process
• Help document design features and parameters, brainstorming all avenues for the creation of animation content
• Investigate, identify, and improve pipeline, optimize workflows and tools, setting best practices/standards streamlining the animation process
• Troubleshoot asset and editor problems for the Animation and other development teams
• Document systems and feature functionality for use by the teams and future employees
• Coordinate with all departments to achieve project goal

Requirements

• Enthusiastic gamer with a passion for making great games and animations
• Minimum 5 years experience as a Technical Animator for games with an emphasis on developing and maintaining animation systems
• Strong knowledge of Maya and Python
• Experience in Unreal Engine 4 Animation Systems
• Experience with creating and maintaining Animation Blueprints 
• Experience with animation pipelines from prototype to final assets
• Demo reel showing expertise with animation systems
• Excellent communicator with strong verbal and written English skills
• Excellent problem solving and time management skills
• Team player with a positive attitude and the ability to provide and receive objective feedback

Preferences

• Excellent eye for animation and visual aesthetics balanced with technical skills
• Experience with cinematics and facial animation
• Experience working with procedural/physically-altered animation techniques
• Experience creating and maintaining rigs for unique characters through the development process
• Experience with multiple 3D packages
• Experience with Realtime Shaders and FX/Simulation

Benefits

Some of the benefits and perks our employees get to enjoy, include:

• 100% Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage for you and your family
• 401k Matching
• Student Loan Repayment Plan / College Savings Plan
• Career Improvement Plan
• Flexible Work Arrangements - In-House, Hybrid, and Remote
• Generous Time Off Policy
• Company Events - In-Person + Virtual Events
• Fully Stocked Kitchen + Sponsored Food Trucks

The estimated base pay range for this role is:

$120,000 to $165,000 USD

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.