Senior Technical Animator

Accountabilities

• Contribute to the technical vision for character animation pipelines and runtime animation systems within Unreal Engine.
• Design, implement, and maintain complex animation systems, with particular emphasis on Animation Blueprints, State Machines, and Control Rig.
• Integrate new characters by creating and implementing Physics and Cloth assets and optimizing Level of Detail (LOD) settings.
• Research, prototype, and introduce new technical animation techniques that improve animation quality, production workflows, and team efficiency.
• Create and maintain high-quality character and weapon rigs in Maya using internal rigging tools and established technical standards.
• Skin high-density characters while ensuring high-quality and efficient deformation.
• Modify and adapt Python-based rig definitions to accommodate unique character requirements while maintaining consistency across the codebase.
• Work closely with engineers and other technical specialists to resolve complex technical challenges and ensure animation systems remain performant and stable.
• Partner with the Technical Animation Lead and Director to translate artistic and gameplay requirements into effective technical solutions.
• Provide technical guidance, feedback, coaching, and mentorship to junior and mid-level technical animators.
• Document technical animation workflows, standards, and best practices to promote consistency and quality across projects.
• Track progress, contribute to task evaluation and scheduling, and communicate upcoming priorities effectively.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of professional experience in technical animation within the games industry, including experience operating at a senior level.
• Proven experience shipping at least one AA+ game title in a technical animation role.
• Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine, particularly Animation Blueprints, State Machines, and Control Rig.
• Strong understanding of dynamic asset systems, especially Physics and Cloth assets.
• Demonstrated expertise in Maya character rigging and skinning, particularly for realistic characters and high-density assets.
• Strong proficiency in Python tools programming and the ability to modify and maintain Python-based rigging systems.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with artists, animators, engineers, and technical leadership.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and an interest in researching new technical approaches and improving animation workflows.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a distributed, multidisciplinary team.
• C++ proficiency is desirable.
• Experience with procedural animation techniques is an advantage.
• Passion for and knowledge of the Action-RPG or Soulslike genre is desirable.
• A gameplay portfolio demonstrating relevant technical animation and rigging work is expected; creature-related work is particularly welcome.
• Applicants must have the right to work in the country where they reside.

Benefits:

• 5-month freelance contract with an immediate start.
• Fully remote work arrangement.
• Flexible working schedule with core collaboration hours from 10 AM to 4 PM CET.
• Opportunity to work on ambitious, high-profile game projects with cutting-edge animation technology.
• Collaboration with talented international artists, animators, engineers, and game development professionals.
• Opportunity to contribute to advanced Unreal Engine animation systems and modern technical animation workflows.
• International and diverse remote working environment.
• Inclusive workplace committed to welcoming people regardless of background, identity, age, disability, or social status.
• Opportunity to work from the Netherlands while collaborating with a distributed European team.
• Freelance compensation structured around a daily rate in EUR, with the rate determined based on experience and engagement terms.