Senior / Lead Animator

Last Arrow Limited; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Healthcare Cash Plan

Tech Purchase Scheme

Cycle to Work

Income Protection

Critical Illness Insurance

Virtual GP

Employee Assistance

Discounts & Cashback

Birthday Day Off

Job summary

Last Arrow Games in Gateshead is seeking an experienced Senior / Lead Animator to join the team. The role focuses on bringing player characters and creatures to life in Unreal Engine 5, while leading the animation team and helping develop animation pipelines.

You will create high-quality animations, mentor staff, collaborate across disciplines, and drive efficient workflows. Must live within commutable distance to Gateshead.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of game development experience with at least one shipped title.
• Experience animating creatures and characters.
• Non-humanoid rigging expertise.
• Strong knowledge of Unreal Engine animation integration.
• Proficiency with Maya, Blender or equivalent.
• Leadership, mentoring and communication skills.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Professional animation training desirable.
• Strong portfolio and practical experience essential.
• Must be eligible to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality animations for player characters and creatures.
• Lead, mentor and scale the animation team.
• Develop believable creature movement and behaviours.
• Animate locomotion, traversal, attacks, reactions and cinematics.
• Collaborate with designers, artists and engineers.
• Manage rigging and export pipelines.
• Improve animation workflows, tools and pipelines.
• Conduct animation reviews and provide feedback.
• Estimate work and support production planning.

Skills

5+ years game dev

Creature/character animation

Non-humanoid rigging

Unreal Engine animation integration

Maya/Blender proficiency

Leadership & mentoring

Time management

Education

Professional animation training desirable

Strong portfolio essential

Eligible to work in UK

Job description

This role is based at our studio in Gateshead and therefore it is imperative that you live within a commutable distance

We are seeking an experienced Senior / Lead Animator to join Last Arrow Games. The role is responsible for bringing player characters and a diverse range of creatures to life in Unreal Engine 5, while leading and mentoring the animation team and helping develop animation pipelines and workflows.

• Create high-quality animations for player characters and creatures
• Lead, mentor and scale the animation team
• Develop believable creature movement and behaviours
• Animate locomotion, traversal, attacks, reactions and cinematics
• Collaborate with designers, artists and engineers
• Manage rigging and export pipelines
• Improve animation workflows, tools and pipelines
• Conduct animation reviews and provide feedback
• Estimate work and support production planning

Key Skills Required

• 5+ years game development experience with at least one shipped title
• Experience animating creatures and characters
• Non-humanoid rigging expertise
• Unreal Engine animation integration
• Maya, Blender or equivalent proficiency
• Leadership, mentoring and communication skills
• Strong organisational and time management skills

Desirable

• Animation Blueprints in UE5
• Control Rig, procedural animation or Motion Matching
• Cinematic animation experience

Qualifications

• Professional animation training desirable
• Strong portfolio and practical experience essential
• Must be eligible to work in the UK

What We Offer

At Last Arrow, we’re committed to creating a supportive, rewarding working environment where our people can thrive. Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance your wellbeing, protect your future, and support life inside and outside work. Our benefits include:

• Competitive Salary
• Healthcare Cash Plan – Cashback on everyday healthcare expenses such as dental, optical, and physiotherapy.
• Tech Purchase Scheme – Spread the cost of new technology through affordable monthly payments.
• Cycle to Work Scheme – Save on bikes and cycling equipment while supporting a healthy, eco‑friendly commute.
• Income Protection – Financial support if you’re unable to work due to long‑term illness or injury.
• Critical Illness & Life Insurance – Extra peace of mind for you and your family.
• Virtual GP Service – Quick and convenient access to medical advice, whenever you need it.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Confidential support for mental health, wellbeing, and financial concerns.
• Discounts & Cashback Platform – Savings on hundreds of retailers, essentials, and lifestyle purchases.
• Birthday Day Off – Enjoy an additional day of paid leave to celebrate your birthday.
• A Supportive Working Environment – A culture that values wellbeing, collaboration, and personal growth.