Technical Animation Associate Director - Dead by Daylight | Directeur.trice Technique Animation[...]

Behaviour Interactive; Toronto; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading gaming studio in Toronto is seeking a Technical Animation Associate Director to lead the animation process for the iconic horror game Dead by Daylight. The role requires over 10 years of relevant experience, expertise in rigging and animation tools, and a strong background in Unreal Engine. Join a passionate team and help shape the future of interactive entertainment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in technical animation for video game production, including 3 years in a leadership role.
• Expertise in rigging, skinning, and developing animation tools.
• Experience with Unreal Engine.
• Advanced knowledge of Maya’s and/or Blender’s animation modules.

Responsibilities

• Spearhead the animation production process, collaborating closely with the art director.
• Define technical requirements for animations and ensure integration into the game.
• Optimize workflows through task automation and innovative tool development.
• Push the boundaries of animation technology for immersive horror experience.

Skills

Rigging

Skinning

Animation tools development

Technical animation

Unreal Engine

3D animation pipeline knowledge

Python

Maya/Blender expertise

Job description

Are you ready to dive into the world of cutting‑edge video game development? Headquartered in Montreal, Behaviour Interactive is at the forefront of the gaming industry, crafting unforgettable experiences across PC, console, and mobile platforms. We’re a dynamic, independent studio of over 1200 passionate employees, with studios in Toronto (Behaviour Toronto), Rotterdam (Behaviour Rotterdam) and in the UK (Behaviour UK‑North & South). Our day to day revolves around two core business focuses: Services and Original Games. Our Services team collaborates with gaming and entertainment giants like Disney, Sony, Activision, and Nintendo, delivering exceptional work‑for‑hire development and pioneering immersive location‑based entertainment (LBE). Meanwhile, our Original Games unit pushes our creative limits, with our signature IPs, including the iconic Dead by Daylight. Join us and be a part of the future of interactive entertainment!

At Behaviour Interactive, we believe in giving everyone a fair shot. We embrace a diverse and creative environment where everyone is celebrated. We value folks of all ages, sex, ethnicity, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, civil status, disability, or any other protected characteristics as per applicable law.

Join the team behind the iconic horror Dead by Daylight and shape the future of its spine‑chilling animations!

As a Technical Animation Associate Director, you’ll spearhead the animation production process, collaborating closely with the art director, animation lead, animators, and other project directors to bring the game’s haunting visual style to life. Your expertise will drive technical and creative decisions, ensuring animations meet the high‑quality standards that define Dead by Daylight. With a deep understanding of animation principles and cutting‑edge technical knowledge, you’ll optimize workflows, inspire innovation, and lead the team to deliver unforgettable player experiences.

In this role you will:

• Translate the artistic vision into a streamlined production process, balancing creativity with technical constraints.
• Define technical requirements for animations and ensure seamless integration into the game.
• Optimize workflows through task automation, process improvements, and innovative tool development.
• Champion resource reuse, new tools, and best practices to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Push the boundaries of animation technology to elevate the game’s immersive horror experience.
• Foster strong communication between creative and technical teams to align on project goals.
• Evaluate and integrate external software to empower the animation team.

What we’re looking for:

• 10+ years of experience in technical animation for video game production, including 3 years in a leadership role.
• Expertise in rigging, skinning, and developing animation tools.
• Experience with Unreal Engine.
• Advanced knowledge of Maya’s and/or Blender’s animation module.
• Deep knowledge of 3D animation pipelines and blueprint systems.
• Passion for exploring new software, animation techniques, and industry advancements.

Nice to Have:

• Proficiency in Python and/or MEL scripting.
• Familiarity with AnimGraph systems.
• Experience with motion capture technology.

Why Join Us?

At Behaviour Interactive, you’ll work on one of the most beloved horror games, collaborating with a passionate team to create thrilling experiences for millions of players. If you’re a visionary leader who thrives at the intersection of creativity and technology, we want you to help shape the future of Dead by Daylight.

Dans ce rôle, vous:

• Traduirez la vision artistique en un processus de production rationalisé, en équilibrant créativité et contraintes techniques.
• Définirez les exigences techniques des animations et assurerez une intégration fluide au jeu.
• Optimiserez les flux de travail grâce à l'automatisation des tâches, à l'amélioration des processus et au développement d'outils innovants.
• Encouragerez la réutilisation des ressources, les nouveaux outils et les meilleures pratiques pour améliorer l'efficacité et la qualité.
• Repousserez les limites de la technologie d'animation pour sublimer l'expérience immersive d'horreur du jeu.
• Favoriserez une communication étroite entre les équipes créatives et techniques afin d'harmoniser les objectifs du projet.
• Évaluer et intégrer des logiciels externes pour autonomiser l'équipe d'animation.

Ce que nous recherchons:

• Plus de 10ans d'expérience en animation technique pour la production de jeux vidéo, dont plus de 3ans à un poste de direction.
• Expertise en rigging, skinning et développement d'outils d'animation.
• Expérience avec Unreal Engine.
• Connaissances avancées du module d'animation de Maya et/ou Blender.
• Connaissance approfondie des pipelines d'animation 3D et des systèmes de plans directeurs.
• Passion pour l'exploration de nouveaux logiciels, de nouvelles techniques d'animation et des avancées du secteur.

Atouts:

• Maîtrise de Python et/ou de scripts MEL.
• Familiarité avec les systèmes AnimGraph.
• Expérience avec la technologie de capture de mouvement.

Pourquoi nous rejoindre?

Chez Behaviour Interactive, vous travaillerez sur l'un des jeux d'horreur les plus populaires, en collaboration avec une équipe passionnée pour créer des expériences palpitantes pour des millions de joueurs. Si vous êtes un·e leader visionnaire qui excelle à l'intersection de la créativité et de la technologie, nous souhaitons que vous contribuez à façonner l'avenir de Dead by Daylight.

Rejoignez l'équipe derrière le jeu d'horreur emblématique Dead by Daylight et façonnez l'avenir de ses animations à couper le souffle!