Lead 3D Animator - 3DS Max / Unreal Engine 5

Company Description Astral Clocktower Studios is a women-owned-and-operated indie game development studio headquartered on the East Coast of the US. We are currently developing our inaugural title, Kristala, a 3D dark fantasy action RPG built with Unreal Engine 5. The game features anthropomorphic feline and rodent characters on the fantasy planet Ailur, a magical world devoid of humanity. Kristala offers fast-paced combat with a strong focus on story and lore, inviting players to explore a planet rich with untold stories.

Here's a recent gameplay trailer : Description We are seeking a

Lead 3D Animator

to take the reins of our animation department and help bring our fantastical characters to life. This is a full-time remote position. You’ll collaborate closely with game design and engineering to shape the feel of Kristala’s core gameplay from combat and traversal to cinematic storytelling. Our ideal candidate is comfortable owning animation production and thrives in a creative, collaborative indie environment.

Experience in 3DS Max and Unreal Engine 5 is preferred , though we’re open to animators with other specialties if they are capable of creating their own rigs. What You'll Do Lead and manage the animation department pipeline Create agile, feline-inspired animations for both playable characters and enemies Create various animations for monster-like characters Implement and refine combat, traversal, and exploration animations with game design Integrate motion capture data and enhance it with custom keyframe polish Collaborate with our rigger (rigging experience would be a great bonus, but not required) Solve animation implementation issues alongside the development team

Requirements 3+ years of professional 3D animation experience (games preferred) Strong proficiency in

Unreal Engine Advanced experience with

3DS Max

preferred) or other industry-standard tools Fluent in English, with excellent communication and collaboration skills Ability to work independently and take initiative in a remote setting A Discord Account and experience using Discord

Bonus Points Published game title(s) under your belt Experience animating agile characters (ninja, feline, or parkour-like movement) Experience working on an action-based, combat heavy kind of game in the past

While this role is currently offered as a contract position, our goal is to transition it into full-time employment as funding and milestones allow. We welcome applicants from anywhere in the world, as we are a worldwide, remote team. Strong communication and time zone flexibility are key.