Technical Animator (2D)

About Pocket Worlds:

At Pocket Worlds, we are building bleeding-edge technology that enables creators to develop the next generation of social experiences. Our flagship platform, Highrise, is where millions of people express themselves, engage in shared experiences, and create deep friendships. Over 40 million people have already joined the world of Highrise, and it's growing faster every day. Through Highrise, we are connecting the world through shared community created experiences and realizing the positive potential of the internet.

About the Role:

We’re looking for a Technical Animator to help bring our characters, environments, and props to life in Highrise. In this role, you'll bridge the gap between animation and engineering—developing rigs, refining animation workflows, and ensuring smooth, efficient character movement in our game.

You’ll work closely with animators, artists, and engineers to create flexible, high-performance rigs, solve technical challenges, and optimize animation systems for mobile. From refining character deformations to implementing dynamic animation solutions, you’ll have a direct impact on how Highrise feels and moves.

If you're passionate about animation, love solving technical problems, and thrive in a fast-paced creative environment, we'd love to have you on board.

Responsibilities:

• Design and produce character and object animations, including pseudo-3D effects.

• Develop visual effects using Unity to enhance game aesthetics.

• Collaborate with the art team, providing feedback, implementing edits, and ensuring visual consistency.

• Optimize and prepare assets for smooth integration into the game engine.

• Oversee and manage the integration of animation assets into the Unity engine.

• Participate in brainstorming sessions to conceptualize new animations and visual effects.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years in mobile game development with a focus on animation.

• Passionate about animation, detail-oriented, and a team player.

• Strong communication skills and adept at problem-solving.

• Advanced rigging skills in Spine or Unity.

• Expertise in 2D and pseudo-3D character animation, including both humanoids and animals.

• Proficient in optimizing animations for mobile platforms.

• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

• Hands-on experience with the Unity game engine.

• Familiarity with the latest animation trends and techniques in the mobile gaming industry.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet project deadlines.

• Portfolio showcasing relevant animation work is required.

Bonuses:

• Experience with other game engines or animation software.

• Background in traditional animation techniques.

• Knowledge of scripting and programming basics for animations.

• Experience with creating animation pipelines and workflows.

• Understanding of game design principles and how animations contribute to player experience.

Why work with us:

• Impact: Your work will directly affect millions of users around the world.

• Growth: Your growth isn’t capped by a career ladder. Show us you can deliver the impact, and we’ll respond with recognition and reward.

• Elite team: You’ll be a member of a small and elite team with a lot of freedom to go after opportunities you identify.

• Culture: High trust, high intensity, low process and bureaucracy. We pride ourselves in being a Silicon Valley startup with a laser focus on the mission, and we’ll happily remove all roadblocks in your path to success.

• Office and team: Directly work with the cofounders in our office located in East Austin.

Pocket Worlds Core Values:

• Be an Owner (Not a Renter)

• Experts leading experts

• Always be shipping

• Focus on Impact

• Take every unfair advantage

• Love what you do

Benefits (Full Time Employees):

• Competitive Compensation

• Meaningful equity - we’re here to do amazing work, and we share in our wins together.

• Equipment allowance - choose what you need to work at your best.

• Healthcare, 401k (US only)

• Unlimited PTO.

• Education/Training stipend - we've set aside a budget for every employee to continue to learn and grow their skills.

Pocket Worlds is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Any communications from Pocket Worlds will only come from an @pocketworlds.com or @everskies.com domain. If you receive any communications, offers, etc. from any other domain, it is likely a scam.