Senior Gameplay Animation Architect

WorkinGames; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

WorkinGames in Brighton, UK, is seeking a Principal Technical Animator (Gameplay) to shape the technical vision and long-term strategy for character animation integration across the studio. You will champion innovation, define pipelines, and collaborate with design, animation and engineering to deliver world-class gameplay feel.

Although not a people manager, you will mentor senior and mid-level technical animators, drive R&D initiatives (Motion Matching, AI animation, next-gen physics), and

Qualifications

• Extensive proven experience architecting and integrating gameplay animation systems for AAA titles using Unreal Engine.
• Master-level expertise in Unreal Engine’s animation suite (Anim Blueprints, Motion Matching, Control Rig, State Machines, and Sequencer).
• Deep technical understanding of low-level animation concepts, including runtime optimisation, memory management, and threading for animation.
• Exceptional cross-discipline communication skills, with a proven track record of aligning Art, Design, and Engineering directors on complex technical visions.
• Expertise in feature breakdown and scoping, with the ability to translate abstract creative pillars into robust, production-ready plans.
• A profound understanding of gameplay mechanics, game feel, and the mathematical principles behind smooth character movement and physics.
• A portfolio or reel demonstrating a history of solving highly complex, innovative technical animation challenges in shipped titles.

Responsibilities

• Architect and oversee the high-level design of gameplay animation systems, ensuring scalability, performance, and seamless integration across complex real-time systems.
• Drive R&D initiatives to evaluate and implement cutting-edge animation technologies (e.g., advanced Motion Matching, machine learning/AI animation, next-gen physics).
• Partner with Engineering and Tech Animation leadership to implement project-wide animation roadmaps and toolsets.
• Solve deep, complex runtime bugs and drive animation optimisation efforts to meet strict performance and memory budgets.
• Define and document technical standards, best practices, and pipeline workflows for the wider technical animation team.
• Collaborate closely with Design and Animation leads to heavily iterate on and perfect 3C mechanics (character, camera, controls), maximizing game feel.
• Actively mentor and upskill senior and mid-level technical animators through code/blueprint reviews and hands-on guidance.

Skills

Gameplay animation systems

Unreal Engine

Animation runtime optimisation

Cross-discipline communication

Production planning

Math & physics understanding

Tools

Anim Blueprints

Motion Matching

Control Rig

State Machines

Sequencer

Maya API

MotionBuilder

Houdini

Job description

WorkinGames in Brighton, UK, is seeking a Principal Technical Animator (Gameplay) to shape the technical vision and long-term strategy for character animation integration across the studio. You will champion innovation, define pipelines, and collaborate with design, animation and engineering to deliver world-class gameplay feel.

Although not a people manager, you will mentor senior and mid-level technical animators, drive R&D initiatives (Motion Matching, AI animation, next-gen physics), and