Senior Animator

Electronic Arts; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Electronic Arts is seeking a Senior Gameplay Animator to enhance gameplay experiences through character animations. This role involves collaborating with teams to create dynamic animations for third-person action games, requiring extensive experience and expertise in animation software. Join a creative environment that values innovation and diversity.

Benefits

3 weeks of vacation per year

10 days of sick time per year

Paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits

Extended health/dental/vision coverage

Life insurance and disability insurance

Retirement plan for full-time employees

Potential for bonus and equity

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in gameplay animation.
• Expertise in Maya, Motionbuilder or comparable Animation software.
• Experience with third-person animation.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement character animation using mocap, keyframe and in-engine tools.
• Collaborate with the animation team and other departments.
• Mentor junior animators and provide feedback.

Skills

Animation principles

Visual storytelling

Maya

Motion capture workflows

Player Experience tuning

Third-person animation

Education

5 years of experience in gameplay animation

Experience with AAA titles

Tools

Maya

Motionbuilder

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

• Canada
• Edmonton
• Canada

Role ID

209377

Worker Type

Regular Employee

Studio/Department

Work Model

Hybrid

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

We are a global team of creators, storytellers, technologists, experience originators, innovators and so much more. We believe amazing games and experiences start with teams as diverse as the players and communities we serve. At Electronic Arts, the only limit is your imagination.

BioWare creates games focused on rich stories, unforgettable characters and vast worlds. It operates primarily out of Edmonton (Alberta, CAN) creating some of the world's most critically acclaimed titles since 1995. The studio is currently working on future game experiences for the Mass Effect franchise, one of the highest rated video game series of all time.

We are looking for an experienced Senior Gameplay Animator with a focus on Previsualization of Gameplay Systems for Third-Person Action 3C development (Character, Camera and Controls). You will collaborate with core Gameplay and Narrative leadership groups to create animations that help to establish systems which blur the lines between traditional Gameplay and Narrative experiences.

The Senior Gameplay Animator will report to the Animation Director.

Responsibilities:
• Create and implement character animation using mocap, keyframe and in-engine tools
• Create high-quality gameplay animations that are responsive, dynamic, and enhance the overall gameplay experience.
• Iterate and refine animation based on both aesthetics and feel
• Collaborate with the animation team, designers, and other departments to ensure that animations fit within the vision of the game.
• Implement animations into the game engine, ensuring smooth transitions and interactions.
• Participate in animation brainstorming and contribute creative ideas for enhancing gameplay.
• Address and resolve animation-related bugs and issues reported by the QA team.
• Mentor junior animators and provide feedback on their work, aiding in their growth and development.
• Stay updated on industry trends, technologies, and best practices in gameplay animation to bring new and innovative techniques to the team.

Qualifications:
• Minimum 5 years of experience in gameplay animation, with at least 1 shipped AAA title.
• Expertise in Maya, Motionbuilder or comparable Animation software.
• A deep understanding of animation principles, specifically the ability to convey emotion, weight, and momentum in character movements.
• Experience with motion capture workflows, including clean-up and enhancement.
• Familiarity with integrating animations in game engines, such as Unreal or Unity.
• Experience tuning animations and systems for Player Experience and 3C Gameplay
• Strong sense of visual storytelling and camera fundamentals.
• Proficiency in taking an idea and rapidly providing visual breakdowns through previsualization videos and block-outs.
• Proficiency in runtime engine animation workflows
• Experience with third-person animation.

Portfolio:
• All submissions must include a demo reel showing personal and/or professional artwork. Portfolio should demonstrate a diverse range of animations, including gameplay, cinematics, and character animations. (edited)

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

In British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.