Senior Technical Animator - Freelance

Join CI Games and be part of shaping the future of gaming. As we embark on an ambitious strategic roadmap with major releases planned for 2026-2028, we're seeking a talented and dedicated Senior Technical Animator to help us create ground-breaking experiences that captivate players worldwide.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Implementation & Animation Systems (Unreal)

• Act as a key contributor to Unreal animation technology, helping to implement and

  maintain the technical vision for character pipelines and runtime systems.

• Design and maintain complex animation systems within Unreal Engine, with a heavy

  focus on Animation Blueprints and Control Rig.

• Contribute to the integration of new characters by implementing their Physics and

  Cloth assets, and fine-tuning their LODs.

• Research and prototype new techniques to enhance animation quality and workflow

  efficiency for the wider team.

Characters & Pipeline Support (Maya)

• Participate in the creation of high-quality character and weapon rigs that meet the demands of our artistic and gameplay vision, using our internal Maya rigging tools.

  • Skinning high density characters with optimal deformation

  • Modifying and adapting Python-based rig definitions so as to address unique character requirements, all the while keeping the codebase consistent

• Collaborate with engineers to solve complex technical challenges and ensure the performance and stability of all animation systems.

Collaboration & Mentorship

• Provide technical guidance and feedback to junior and mid-level technical

  animators, fostering their skills and growth.

• Collaborate closely with the Technical Animation Lead and Director to translate

  artistic needs into robust technical solutions.

• Document best practices for the technical animation pipeline to ensure consistency

  and quality across all projects.

• Track your progress on a daily basis and help evaluating and scheduling upcoming

  tasks

Key Requirements:

• 5+ years of experience in technical animation, with a proven track record in a senior capacity.

• Shipped at least one AA+ title in a technical animation capacity.

• Expert-level expertise with Unreal Engine, specifically with Animation Blueprints, State Machines, and Control Rigs.

• Solid knowledge of dynamic asset types, in particular Physics and Cloth Assets.

• Proven skills in Maya character rigging and skinning for realistic characters.

• Strong proficiency with python tools programming.

• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with artists and engineers.

Desirable:

• Proficiency in C++

• Experience with procedural animation techniques

• A deep passion for and expertise in the Action-RPG or Soulslike genre

What we offer:

• 5 months freelance contract with immediate start

• Remote work with flexible schedules (core working hours 10am-4pm CET), allowing you to work alongside talented individuals from around the world.

• An opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and stay at the forefront of the gaming industry.

• A diverse and inclusive workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or social status.

Originally posted on Himalayas