3D Gameplay Animator

Arcata Interactive; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

VFX for animation

Stylized aesthetics

Job summary

Arcata Interactive is seeking a skilled 3D Generalist to join as a foundational member of our indie-spirited team. You will shape the feel of our games by bringing combat, traversal, and world events to life with responsive animations and strong storytelling.

As an early team member, you will own technical workflows and contribute to trailers and marketing visuals, while collaborating closely with designers and engineers to maintain a compelling, cohesive experience across platforms.

Qualifications

• 1-3+ years in professional game development with at least one shipped title.
• Proven experience with 3D character/creature/vehicle modeling, rigging and skinning.
• Expert-level proficiency in Autodesk Maya and a deep understanding of UE4/UE5 animation pipelines (Control Rig a plus).
• A portfolio demonstrating mastery of weight, timing, and impact—specifically within action-oriented gameplay.

Responsibilities

• Animate & Iterate: Design, prototype, and polish 3D character & creature animations focusing on combat, traversal, and interactive world events.
• Technical Integration: Implement and Test animations within UE5 using Montage systems to ensure seamless transitions and responsive gameplay.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Designers and Engineers to bridge the gap between looking good and feeling right, ensuring animations support gameplay mechanics and frame-data requirements.
• Visual Storytelling: Craft high-impact cinematic sequences and key-pose compositions for marketing and trailers.
• System Ownership: Identify and resolve animation-related bugs, optimize performance, and document workflows to build a scalable foundation for future growth.

Skills

3D animation

Unreal Engine

Portfolio

Team collaboration

Animation pipelines

Tools

Autodesk Maya

UE4/UE5

Job description

Arcata Interactive is a game development studio specializing in end-to-end Unreal Engine production, from early concept and prototyping through launch and live support. The team combines AAA studio backgrounds with the flexibility and creativity of an indie environment. We're looking for a talented 3D Generalist to be a foundational member of our team, helping bring our exciting indie titles to life.

In this role, you will be architecting the "feel" of our games. From explosive combat mechanics to subtle environmental interactions, your work will serve as the heartbeat of our brand. As an early member of the team, you will have a high degree of creative ownership, influencing everything from technical workflows to the final cinematic polish of our trailers.

Responsibilities

• Animate & Iterate: Design, prototype, and polish 3D character & creature animations focusing on combat, traversal, and interactive world events.
• Technical Integration: Implement and Test animations within UE5 using Montage systems to ensure seamless transitions and responsive gameplay.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Designers and Engineers to bridge the gap between "looking good" and "feeling right," ensuring animations support gameplay mechanics and frame-data requirements.
• Visual Storytelling: Beyond gameplay, contribute to the studio’s identity by crafting high-impact cinematic sequences and key-pose compositions for marketing and trailers.
• System Ownership: Identify and resolve animation-related bugs, optimize performance, and document workflows to build a scalable foundation for future growth.

Requirements

• 1-3+ years in professional game development with at least one shipped title (PC or Console).
• Proven experience with 3D character/creature/vehicle modeling, rigging and skinning.
• Expert-level proficiency in Autodesk Maya and a deep understanding of UE4/UE5 animation pipelines (Control Rig experience is a plus).
• A portfolio demonstrating mastery of weight, timing, and impact—specifically within action-oriented gameplay.
• Proven ability to use engine debug tools to troubleshoot sync issues, popping, or blending errors.
• Strong verbal and written skills; the ability to give and receive "ego-less" feedback in a collaborative indie environment.
• A passion for staying current with industry trends (e.g., Motion Matching, Procedural Animation) and a desire to mentor others.

Bonus Points

• Experience creating VFX or technical art to support animation (e.g., cloth/hair physics).
• A love for stylized, high-energy aesthetics.