Lead Animator - Studio Elevation (Remote within the UK)

nDreams; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative VR studio is seeking a talented Lead Animator to shape the future of virtual reality gaming. In this exciting role, you will design and refine animations for characters, creatures, and environments, ensuring they align with the artistic vision and technical standards of the project. You will lead a dynamic animation team, mentor junior animators, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional gaming experiences. With a fully remote work environment and a focus on groundbreaking technology, this position offers a unique opportunity to influence the next generation of VR games while enjoying a range of benefits and flexible working hours.

Benefits

Flexible Hours

Duvet Days

Birthday Off

Personal Development Time

Health Insurance

Life Cover

Regular Socials

Excellent Holiday Offering

Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in producing AAA content for games.
• Strong understanding of animation principles and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead the animation team to create high-quality animations for VR games.
• Collaborate with designers, artists, and programmers for seamless integration.

Skills

Lead Animation

Animation Principles

Maya

Blender

Motion Capture

Rigging

Communication Skills

Leadership Skills

Game Development Pipelines

Analytical Skills

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

nDreams Studio Elevation is re-establishing the boundaries of VR. We’re looking for an exceptionally talented Lead Animator to help us explore, create, and deliver world-leading innovation in software and VR hardware. With our first title nearing release and a second in early planning stages, it’s a great time to join our fully remote, VR-first studio.

As a Lead Animator, you will design, create, and refine animations for characters, creatures, vehicles, and environments, ensuring they meet the artistic vision and technical requirements of the game. You will be accountable for a broad area of animation, and for the organisation and direction of the animation team.

The rundown:

• Permanent role
• Full time (37.5 hours per week)
• Fully remote within the UK
• Salary is competitive and dependent on experience

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the animation team to create high-quality animations for VR games.
• Collaborate with designers, artists, and programmers to ensure animations integrate seamlessly into the game.
• Develop and maintain animation pipelines and tools, ensuring efficiency and scalability.
• Mentor and provide feedback to junior animators.
• Work closely with the Art director to achieve the artistic vision of the project.
• Ensure animations meet technical requirements and performance standards.
• Stay updated with the latest animation techniques and technologies.
• Implement animations within Unreal Engine.
• Conduct regular reviews of animation work, providing constructive feedback to the team.
• Define motion planning and the implementation process of various characters and their respective responsiveness.

Requirements

The skills you’ll need:

• An accomplished Lead animator with proven experience in producing AAA content for games.
• Strong understanding of animation principles and techniques.
• The ability to understand game genres and art styles and create animations that suit those worlds.
• Expert in animation software such as Maya, Blender, or equivalent.
• Experience with motion capture and rigging.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a remote team environment.
• Knowledge of game development pipelines, including asset management and version control systems.
• Strong analytical skills to solve technical and creative challenges in animation.

The nice to haves:

• Experience with VR animation.
• Passion for VR and innovative technologies.

Benefits

We offer great perks, including flexible hours, duvet days, your birthday off, dedicated personal development time and support, as well as regular socials. Beyond this, there’s an excellent holiday offering, pension scheme, health insurance, life cover and much more.