Technical Animator

WorkinGames; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Blackbird Interactive is seeking a passionate Technical Animator to join our team to deliver a large, exciting IP. You will rig, skin, and export animated meshes into Unreal Engine 5, while animating humanoid and mechanical assets in a sci-fi setting.

The role requires expertise in Maya, Unreal Engine 5, and pipeline collaboration, with flexibility for remote or hybrid work across Canada. Join a forward-thinking studio that values creative voices and long-term growth.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in technical and gameplay animation for games.
• Strong rigging workflows and game-ready skeleton design.
• Proficient in Maya and Unreal Engine 5.
• Familiar with Perforce-based pipelines and asset handoffs.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Maya and Unreal-based pipelines enabling animation, rigging, and export workflows.
• Produce high quality animation in gameplay to fit the established creative direction.
• Animate both mechanical and humanoid assets.
• Follow Art Director direction to maintain a cohesive aesthetic across the project.
• Collaborate with technical artists to fill gaps in pipeline and tools.
• Coordinate with 3D artists to ensure smooth handoffs from asset creation to animation setup.
• Work with production to provide estimates and timelines for asset delivery.

Skills

Technical animation

Gameplay animation

Rigging workflows

Maya

Unreal Engine 5

Perforce

Collaboration

Problem solving

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Perforce

Maya

Job description

Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects, which encompass world-class IPs as well as our own creations across multiple genres.

Blackbird Interactive operates as a remote-first workplace, offering flexible work arrangements.

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, we are only able to hire candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada and reside within Canada.

Blackbird Interactive is seeking a passionate Technical Animator to join our team to deliver a large, exciting IP! Do you have a broad range of creative and technical experience setting up character and mechanical animations in Unreal Engine 5? We’re looking for a technical animator who has the technical proficiency to rig, skin, and export animated meshes into Unreal Engine. On top of that, we are requiring a versatile set of skills to animate humanoid characters as well as machinery within a sci-fi setting. We support both remote and hybrid working arrangements across Canada (Vancouver, BC). At BBI, you’ll find a flexible, forward-thinking environment where creative voices are valued and nurtured.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Maya and Unreal-based pipelines that enable animation, rigging, and content export workflows
• Produce high quality animation in gameplay to fit the overall style and established creative direction
• Proficient in animating both mechanical and humanoid assets
• Ability to take direction from the Art Director in order to maintain a coherent aesthetic thread throughout the project
• Collaborate with technical artists to fill gaps in pipeline and tools where needed
• Collaborate with 3D artists to create smooth handoffs between asset creation and animation set-up
• Collaborate with production to provide estimates and timelines to ensure timely delivery of assets

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience in technical animation and gameplay animation specifically for games
• Strong knowledge of rigging workflows
• Well-versed in Maya and Unreal Engine 5
• Familiarity with game-ready skeleton design, skinning, and animation scene structure
• Comfort working in Perforce-integrated pipelines and managing scene referencing/export workflows
• Comfort with quick iteration and problem-solving
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset

Bonuses

• Passion for games
• Passion for film and cinematography
• Experience manipulating Unreal camera rigs and setups

$80,000 - $100,000 a year