Senior Technical Animator

Description

The team at the company builds BioShock games and is hiring a Senior Technical Animator to help shape its animation systems and character performance at runtime in Unreal Engine 5.

You will work with game developers to build scalable technical solutions and animation workflows that support immersive gameplay.

Responsibilities

• Implement and set up animation assets and systems directly in Unreal Engine 5.
• Build, upkeep, and improve complex Animation Blueprints and runtime procedural systems such as cloth, IK, and secondary dynamics.
• Adjust and debug Motion Matching and advanced locomotion so movement feels fluid and responsive.
• Make sure animation assets, runtime systems, and editor frameworks run smoothly and use memory efficiently.
• Find and fix technical animation problems that span Maya and the engine.
• Work with animation and engineering leads to refine authoring pipelines, document tools and processes, and mentor teammates on best practices.
• Work closely with design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to stay current on new technology and solve development problems.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional technical animation experience in video game development, including at least one shipped AAA title.
• Hands-on expertise with UE5 animation tools, including Animation Blueprints, Control Rigs, Montages, Notifies, and the Rewind Debugger.
• Strong working knowledge of runtime procedural animation technologies such as Motion Matching, Motion Warping, Control Rigs, Full-Body IK, Retargeting, Ragdoll, and Cloth.
• Solid understanding of human anatomy and kinesiology, including how skeletal mechanics drive deformation rigs and realistic motion.
• Clear grasp of traditional animation principles and how to apply them under real-time gameplay constraints.
• Experience working in cross-disciplinary teams, with strong written and verbal communication. You can explain complex ideas to varied audiences and give difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
• Reliable and positive, looking for ways to connect work across disciplines and support a healthy team.
• Self-motivated and persistent, with strong ownership of tasks, a sharp eye for detail, and the drive to move work forward on your own.
• Able to keep quality high under pressure, ambiguity, and shifting priorities.
• Good listener who builds trust across all levels of the organization, understands differing views, and handles complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
• Open to feedback, eager to learn, and able to make fast, high-quality revisions when insights or constraints change.
• Committed to the company's core values and to a respectful, positive culture.

Conditions

The base pay range for this role in California at the start of employment is $108,900 to $161,160 USD per year. Actual pay depends on market location and individual factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total package may also include a bonus and or equity awards and eligibility for the 401(k) plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Program, subject to the same factors.

Remote position.

Candidates located in Quebec must have professional proficiency in French and English. English is required to work with U.S. teams and international partners and to handle specialized technical documentation, including reading, writing, and speaking.

The company does not use instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact candidates or hold interviews. Outreach comes only from 2K.com email accounts.

Benefits

• Full-time employees receive medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance.
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year.
• Paid vacation of 15 to 25 days per calendar year, or access to the company's discretionary time off program.
• Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year.
• Paid parental and compassionate leave.
• Wellbeing programs covering mental health and other wellness support.
• Family planning support through Maven.
• Commuter benefits.
• Reimbursement for fitness-related expenses.