Animation Director, Amazon

As our Animation Director, you will lead both gameplay and cinematic animation efforts, building and mentoring a world-class team from scratch. This is a unique opportunity to establish animation pipelines, workflows, and standards that will define our studio's aesthetic and player experience.

Key job responsibilities
- Build, lead, and mentor a team of talented animators for both gameplay and cinematic animation
- Establish and oversee animation pipelines, workflows, and quality standards
- Collaborate with internal teams (design, engineering, art) and external co-development partners to achieve best-in-industry animation for action games
- Spearhead the development and implementation of our motion capture solution
- Drive innovation in animation techniques and tools to push the boundaries of what's possible in game animation
- Ensure consistency and quality across all animated elements of the project
- Contribute to the overall creative vision of the game, working closely with other department leads

A day in the life
- Collaborating with the Art Director to establish and refine the animation direction for the game
- Working closely with the Technical Animation team to build and optimize animation pipelines and processes
- Conducting research and development on cutting-edge animation techniques to push the boundaries of what's possible in-game
- Engaging with external partners, including external art directors and co-development teams
- Reviewing and providing feedback on animation work from both internal and external teams
- Leading brainstorming sessions to solve complex animation challenges
- Mentoring team members and fostering a culture of creativity and excellence

About the team
At Amazon Games, our ambition is to create bold new experiences that foster community in and around our games. Our team of game industry veterans is developing and publishing live service AAA multiplayer games and developing original IPs, including New World: Aeternum and an upcoming title based on The Lord of the Rings, with our studios and teams in Seattle, Orange County, San Diego, Montreal, and Bucharest. Amazon Games also publishes best-in-class games in close collaboration with developers, leading with Lost Ark from Smilegate RPG, THRONE AND LIBERTY from NCSOFT, and King of Meat from Glowmade, as well as the next major entry in the Tomb Raider series from Crystal Dynamics.

Basic Qualifications

- 5+ years of Games Industry (supporting title Development, Release, or Live Ops) experience

Preferred Qualifications

- Proven track record of building and managing high-performing animation teams
- Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in both gameplay and cinematic animation
- Experience with motion capture technology and pipelines
- - Proficiency in industry-standard animation software (e.g., Maya, Unreal, MotionBuilder)
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work effectively with internal and external teams
- Passion for pushing the boundaries of game animation and staying current with industry trends

Amazon is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.amazon.jobs/en/disability/us.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The base pay for this position ranges from $136,100/year in our lowest geographic market up to $291,200/year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Amazon is a total compensation company. Dependent on the position offered, equity, sign-on payments, and other forms of compensation may be provided as part of a total compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. For more information, please visit https://www.aboutamazon.com/workplace/employee-benefits. This position will remain posted until filled. Applicants should apply via our internal or external career site.