Character Animation Lead

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

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

ART

What We Do

Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character, and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.

What You'll Do

Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special Projects team to help drive the vision and execution of character animation across experimental and gameplay-driven prototypes. You will combine strong animation fundamentals with technical fluency in Unreal Engine to build responsive, expressive, and scalable animation systems. You will act as a bridge between animation and engineering - helping to define workflows, shape systems, and solve complex problems at the intersection of gameplay and motion. This role requires both hands-on creation and leadership: setting quality bars, guiding others, and helping a small team move quickly without sacrificing clarity or craft.

In this role, you will

• Lead the creation and implementation of high-quality, gameplay-driven animation in Unreal Engine
• Prototype and iterate on new approaches to character movement, responsiveness, and player-driven animation
• Collaborate closely with engineers and technical designers to design scalable, flexible animation systems. Excite those around you with creative and clear thinking
• 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 help evolve animation pipelines, tools, and workflows for rapid iteration
• Mentor and support other animators, fostering a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and craft excellence

What we're looking for

• Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both realistic and stylized motion
• Deep experience working in Unreal Engine, including Animation Blueprints, state machines, blending, and runtime systems
• Strong understanding of gameplay animation-how input, timing, and responsiveness shape player experience
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with engineers and technical designers on complex, system-driven features
• Experience building or contributing to animation systems (not just assets), including debugging and iteration in-engine
• Animating in engine using Unreal Engine animation tools
• Comfort working in ambiguous, exploratory environments with rapid iteration cycles
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance creative goals with technical constraints
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Experienced AAA development or equivalent real-time production environments

Bonus Points

• Experience with motion matching, procedural animation, or emerging animation technologies
• Familiarity with Control Rig and runtime rigging workflows in Unreal Engine

This role is open to multiple locations in North America.

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.

$210,445 — $308,652 USD

Washington Base Pay Range

$191,313 — $280,592 USD

ABOUT US

Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.

Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here .