Character Animation Director — Unreal Engine Leader

Epic Games; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 309,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

401k with competitive match

Medical, Dental, Vision coverage

Job summary

Epic Games is seeking a Character Animation Director to lead and shape animation across experimental and gameplay-driven prototypes. You’ll bridge animation and engineering to define workflows, build scalable systems, and guide a small team toward fast, high-quality outputs.

The role requires hands-on creation, strong leadership, and a deep understanding of Unreal Engine animation tools. Open to multiple North American locations with Epic’s celebrated benefits and creative culture.

Qualifications

• Expert-level understanding of character animation principles.
• Deep experience in Unreal Engine, including Animation Blueprints, state machines, blending, and runtime systems.
• Proven ability to collaborate with engineers and technical designers on complex, system-driven features.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and implementation of high-quality, gameplay-driven animation in Unreal Engine.
• Prototype and iterate on new approaches to character movement and player-driven animation.
• Collaborate with engineers and technical designers to design scalable animation systems.
• Own animation quality and leadership across projects, ensuring a strong and consistent point of view.
• Translate gameplay needs into animation behaviours that feel intuitive and responsive.
• Debug and solve complex animation and integration issues in the engine.
• Contribute to and evolve animation pipelines, tools, and workflows for rapid iteration.
• Mentor and support other animators, fostering curiosity and craft excellence.

Skills

Character animation principles

Unreal Engine collaboration

Leadership and mentorship

Animation systems design

Engineering collaboration

Tools

Unreal Engine

Animation Blueprints

State machines

Job description

Epic Games is seeking a Character Animation Director to lead and shape animation across experimental and gameplay-driven prototypes. You’ll bridge animation and engineering to define workflows, build scalable systems, and guide a small team toward fast, high-quality outputs.

The role requires hands-on creation, strong leadership, and a deep understanding of Unreal Engine animation tools. Open to multiple North American locations with Epic’s celebrated benefits and creative culture.