Crystal Dynamics is seeking a Senior Gameplay Animator who will play a pivotal role in defining the animation vision for our upcoming high-fidelity action-adventure titles. As the Senior Gameplay Animator, you will directly influencing the gameplay experience through the execution of top-tier animations. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the visual and interactive elements of our games, making a substantial impact on our projects.

As a Lead Gameplay Animator, you will:

• Work in close partnership with Department Leads, Animators, and Designers to assess and meet the game’s animation requirements.

• Deliver engaging combat and traversal animations in collaboration with combat designers and engineers.

• Set and manage goals, aligning deliverables with project milestones and deadlines.

• Conduct and direct motion capture shoots for both gameplay and cinematic performances, as needed.

• Oversee work and partner with co-developers and external vendors in different countries and time zones.

• Run full pipelines (both internal and external), from narrative / storyboard to fully implemented in-game shippable content.

• Foster a positive, collaborative team environment that values open communication and constructive feedback.

• Streamline animation processes to enhance team productivity throughout the game development cycle.

• Document and manage animation tasks and processes.

• Guide animators across various styles, ensuring a consistent animation approach throughout the project.

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

• Extensive experience in gameplay animation as a strong individual contributor, particularly for high-fidelity action-adventure games.

• In-depth understanding of gameplay systems, especially in 3rd person perspectives, including weapon, traversal, melee, and ranged combat animations.

• Expertise in animation trees, animation blending, and node-based animation editors.

• Proficiency in Motion Capture, Motion Matching, Maya, and real-time game engines/editors.

• A collaborative mindset, particularly in working with design and engineering teams.

• 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 in regards to:

• Character Animation: High-quality, grounded movements like walking, running, jumping, climbing, and other traversal actions.

• Combat 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, then we would be looking for a director’s cut.

Preference will be given to candidates who have:

• Experience in Unreal Engine.

• Desire to mentor and build up other animators.

$67,500 — $110,000/year