Technical Animator (Expression of Interest)

Framestore; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Framestore’s Immersive Studio is seeking a Technical Animator to join our team, working at the intersection of animation, technology and real-time storytelling in Unreal Engine. You will build and refine animation systems, collaborating with Technical Artists, Developers and Rigging teams to ship polished XR experiences across real-time installs, interactive displays and themed attractions.

The role is speculative; if hired it is a hybrid London-based contract role with potential international

Qualifications

• Extensive experience with Unreal Engine (UE5 preferred) in a real-time/games environment.
• Deep knowledge of Unreal animation systems including Control Rig, Motion Matching, Contextual Animation, and dynamics.
• Experience with animation blueprints and engine state machines.
• Python scripting ability.

Responsibilities

• Build and refine animation systems in Unreal Engine.
• Collaborate with Technical Artists, Developers and Rigging teams to integrate motion into real-time experiences.
• Balance performance with artistic intent and troubleshoot animation-related issues.
• Create and maintain clear documentation.
• Support animation and gameplay experiences across XR, interactive projects and themed attractions.

Skills

Unreal Engine 5

Animation systems

Control Rig

Motion Matching

Contextual Animation

Procedural Layering

Blending

Transitions

Physics Assets

Dynamics

Animation Blueprints

Engine State Machines

Rigging Pipelines

Python

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Job description

Please note this is a speculative role. If we move to hire, the position will be hybrid and require days in our London studio as well as potential international travel. We cannot provide visas or UK relocation for this position, as it will be a contract role.

Framestore’s Immersive Studio is a world-leading innovator in crafting immersive experiences that transcend the screen, catapulting you into extraordinary realms of adventure. Combining our unrivalled creative craftsmanship with our technical prowess, we're dedicated to reframing expectations for both IP owners and their guests with creative technology, location-based entertainment, and mind-blowing theme park rides.

Framestore combines talent and technology to bring life to everything we create. Driven by creativity and inspired by the future, we set out every day to reframe the possible.

The Role

Framestore is looking for a Technical Animator to join our Immersive team, working at the intersection of animation, technology and real-time storytelling. This role is ideal for an experienced Animator with strong Unreal Engine knowledge, or a Technical Artist with a background in animation who enjoys building systems as much as crafting motion.

You’ll work closely with Technical Artists, Developers, and our Animation and Rigging teams to bring the level of polish seen in our Film and TV work into real-time experiences. From XR and interactive projects to themed attractions, you’ll help shape how animation lives and breathes in engine.

You’ll focus on building, implementing and refining animation systems in game engine(s), while supporting the tools and workflows that enable artists across the division to do their best work. You’ll balance performance and artistic intent, troubleshoot complex problems, and collaborate closely with development and pipeline teams to create compelling, responsive experiences.

You’ll also be:

• Implementing and maintaining animation systems within Unreal Engine
• Collaborating with Pipeline and Rigging teams to develop tools that extend VFX workflows into engine
• Troubleshooting and resolving animation-related technical issues
• Optimising animation performance while preserving creative quality
• Creating and maintaining clear, practical documentation
• Working with the Development team to support strong gameplay and interaction experiences

Please note that whilst Unreal Engine is our preferred engine, we’d also be happy to hear from candidates with experience using other game engines, whether proprietary or otherwise, even if you don’t meet every requirement listed below.

Essential Skills:

Extensive experience working in engine (UE 5 preferred) in a games or real-time environment

• Deep knowledge of Unreal animation systems, including Control Rig, Motion Matching, Contextual Animation, procedural layering, blending, transitions, physics assets and dynamics
• Experience with animation blueprints and engine state machines
• Strong understanding of animation and rigging pipelines in Unreal and/or VFX
• Confidence working with Python