Lead Gameplay Animator

Remote/Flexible - USA/Canada

Crystal Dynamics is constantly seeking the best gaming talent worldwide to add to our 30-plus year legacy of game development creating new and iconic franchises. We are committed to making great games with great people and living the dream while doing it.

Benefits for our regular full-time positions include, but are not limited to, a competitive regional salary, 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance options, professional development reimbursement, flexible hybrid on-site/off-site work opportunities, company paid holidays, plus additional paid days in December when the studio is closed for holiday break, and the ability to accrue additional paid time-off.

Join us and shape the future of an amazing studio culture committed to creating award-winning franchises like Tomb Raider, the next Perfect Dark, and more!

At Crystal Dynamics, we're searching for an established Lead Gameplay Animator to spearhead our gameplay animation efforts. Playing an integral role in the vibrant landscape of game development, you will be pivotal in creating unforgettable animation sequences. If you're enthusiastic about crafting impactful, resonant, experiences through animation, then we’d love for you to apply!

As a Lead Gameplay Animator, you will:

• Lead and develop a team of skilled external animators, working closely with our co-development partner, guiding animators across different time zones to drive creative alignment and ensure the delivery of high-quality animation assets.
• Deliver engaging combat and traversal animations in collaboration with gameplay designers and engineers.
• Set and manage animation goals, aligning deliverables with project milestones and deadlines.
• Utilize the animation team's diverse strengths to produce superior quality animations.
• Promote team growth and morale through regular individual meetings, feedback sessions, and mentorship opportunities.
• Foster a positive, collaborative team environment that values open communication and constructive feedback.
• Develop and maintain a modern animation workflow aligned with our Unreal Editor development environment to enhance team productivity and reduce iteration time.
• Document and manage animation tasks and processes.
• Guide animators across various styles, ensuring a consistent animation approach throughout the project.
• Review external animation vendors, as needed.

To be considered for this role, we require the following:

• Experience in a leadership role within animation (Director, Lead, or Principal Animator) in the game development industry, particularly for high-fidelity action-adventure games.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with a track record of nurturing and developing animation talent.
• In-depth understanding of gameplay systems, including weapon, traversal, melee, and ranged combat animations, especially from a 3rd person perspective.
• Expertise in animation graphs, animation blending, and node-based animation editors.
• Proficiency in Motion Capture and real-time game engines / editors.
• A collaborative mindset, particularly when working with co-development design and engineering teams.
• Willing and able to work with co-dev teams in EU.
• Examples of relevant work (i.e., demo reel, portfolio, or contributions to shipped title). An ideal reel will include:
• Up to date examples of realistic animations that clearly demonstrate your skills/expertise, preferably showcasing some or all of the following:
• Character Animation: High-quality, grounded movements like walking, running, jumping, climbing, and other traversal actions.
• Gameplay Animations: Realistic offensive and defensive moves for both melee and ranged combat, including combos and melee weapons.
• Cutscene Integration: Smooth transitions between gameplay and cinematic scenes.
• Inclusion of a breakdown sheet detailing your specific contributions to each piece is highly recommended. Note: If you directed others, we would then be looking for a director’s cut.

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• Experience with Unreal Engine.
• Experience with Unreal Engine Animation Tools.
• Experience with Metahuman Animation Tools.

It'll be a bonus if you also have:

• Shipped 1+ AAA or relevant AA title.
• Experience directing motion capture shoots for both gameplay and cinematic performances.
• Experience with creature animation.
• Experience working within an existing IP.

The pay range for this role includes the annual base salary, not including bonus and the generous benefits package that Crystal Dynamics provides all full-time employees. Individual compensation is determined by work location within our approved states or regions, as well as additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education.

Your recruiter will be able to share more information about total compensation.

Pay Range (United States)

$115,000 - $166,000 USD

Pay Range (Canada)

$110,000 - $148,000 CAD

Not sure if you are qualified? We hope that you will still choose to apply so we may review your application!

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Crystal Dynamics is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to identifying and implementing positive and persistent measures to ensure equal opportunity in the recruitment, hiring, development, training, promotion and compensation of a diverse team employee group. This includes persons of different race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding, genetic characteristic, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, medical condition, political affiliation, age, veteran status, uniform service member status, marital status, physical or mental disability, or citizenship, as well as any other classifications protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Crystal Dynamics is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. If you require any accommodations, please notify us at your earliest convenience during the interview process.

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