Gameplay Animator

2K; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 61,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

Paid holidays (14 per year)

Vacation time 15–25 days

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

2K Sports Lab in Vancouver, BC seeks an experienced Gameplay Animator for a 12-month contract. You will collaborate with AI/Animation Engineers, Designers and Producers to implement authentic sports behaviors and deliver polished gameplay for a new sports franchise.

Required are a university degree or college diploma in visual arts, plus experience in interactive animation features, and a strong portfolio. The role emphasizes collaboration, quality, and authentic movement in a team-driven

Qualifications

• Requires university degree or college diploma in graphic arts or related field.
• Experience with second-to-second interactive animation features is desirable.
• Portfolio demonstrating graphic design/illustration and animation skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate in a multidisciplinary game development environment.
• Participate in review/feedback process for animation and gameplay contexts.
• Edit, enhance and clean up motion capture data per gameplay and engine requirements.
• Define animation needs with Design Leads and create feature designs.
• Influence technical implementation with Engineers and Designers to build strong features.
• Deliver high-quality animations in collaboration with the Animation Director.
• Implement features in the game engine with your team.
• Champion animation quality and authenticity in your features.
• Contribute prototype assets for visualization when needed.
• Provide task estimations for animation work.

Skills

Gameplay animation

Unreal Engine

Collaborative

Attention to detail

Sports game experience

Education

University degree in visual arts

Graphic arts college diploma

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 2023, 2K Sports Lab is the newest stand alone studio at 2K looking to push game development boundaries to bring 2K's next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. We're building a world-class team at our new Vancouver, BC location where our goal is to deliver an exceptional experience through bold ideas, technical excellence, and creative collaboration. We're seeking passionate and driven professionals across all areas of game development to help shape this ambitious vision.

What We Need

Our studio is looking for an experienced Gameplay Animator (12-month contract) who has a high quality bar and a passion for replicating authentic sports behaviors. In this role, you will work closely with AI and Animation Engineers, Designers and Producers to implement authentic sports behaviors to build highly polished world - class gameplay for what will be the next massive sports franchise in our industry.

What You Will Do

• Collaborate as a professional in a multidisciplinary game development environment
• Participate in review/feedback process both in source animation and gameplay contexts.
• Edit, enhance and clean up motion Capture Data in accordance with Gameplay and engine and design requirements
• Collaborate with Design Leads to define the animation needs and create the design for animation based features
• Collaborate with Engineers and Designers to influence the technical implementation of features in order to build the strongest feature possible
• Collaborate with the Animation Director to understand, and deliver on, the quality bar for the animations that you create
• Collaborate with the Design Lead and Engineering team to implement your features in engine
• Champion animation quality and authenticity within your features, bringing the animation perspective to all decision making
• Occasionally contribute elements such prototype assets, sketches, layouts and other elements for game/cinematic previsualization
• Provide task estimations with regard to animation work.

Who We Think Will Be A Great Fit

• A university degree in visual arts with specialization in graphic design, commercial art, graphic communications or cartooning or completion of a college diploma program in graphic arts is required
• Experience or training in multimedia design at a post-secondary, college or technical institution may be required Please confirm if applicant has this experience
• Creative ability and artistic talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are required for graphic designers and illustrators
• A passion, and understanding of sports games
• Experience working with 'second-to-second' interactive animation features
• Player experience focused
• Open minded, proactive and collaborative
• Experience with Unreal Engine
• Passionate about playing and/or watching sports
• Passion for video games (not just ours!)
• Subject matter expert in human movement pertaining to professional sport

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between CAD $60,700 and CAD $89,860 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews, and when emailing, we only use 2K.com accounts.