Mid-Level/Senior Animator

PUBG Madison; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Generous PTO and holidays

401K with company match

Free catered lunches

Health and wellness reimbursements

Job summary

PUBG Madison is seeking an experienced Animator to design character movement and animations for a new IP. Candidates should have a strong portfolio featuring realistic characters and a deep understanding of animation principles.

This role offers a competitive salary, comprehensive healthcare, generous PTO, and opportunities for international travel. Remote work is available for candidates in the United States.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of game development experience, with at least 1 shipped game.
• Strong portfolio showcasing realistic character interactions.
• Deep understanding of core animation principles.

Responsibilities

• Design character movement to enhance gameplay.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure animations function correctly.
• Review and provide feedback on animation work.

Skills

Character animation pipelines

Unreal Engine

Unity

Animation workflows

Character movement design

Tools

Animation software

Motion capture data

Job description

We are PUBG, the global battle royale phenomenon! After the release of our flagship title in 2017 we have become one of the highest selling games of all time with over 75 million copies sold – that’s a lot of Chicken Dinners! And that’s only the beginning: PUBG Madison is developing an exciting new IP that aims to push the shooter genre forward.

Our state‑of‑the‑art studio and brand‑new motion capture studio are in the heart of Madison, WI, a city frequently named the best place to live in the US for its vibrant culture, natural beauty, and outstanding, innovative educational institutions. PUBG Madison has been named a Top Workplace in 2025 and 2026 for our positive, strong company culture. Experience the perfect balance of urban excitement and natural tranquility in a city with more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails, an incredible downtown farmer’s market, and family‑friendly neighborhoods.

This role is open to remote work for those located in the United States and Canada. This role will work primarily on Pacific Time Zone (PST) business hours and requires regular collaboration with Korean‑speaking teams; fluency in both English and Korean is strongly preferred.

The person we’re looking for:

• Understands movement not just as staging but as a gameplay element.
• Can design the play experience through timing and responsiveness.
• Able to communicate a character’s emotions, weight, and intent through movement.
• Defines animation direction and execution even in ambiguous situations.
• Organizes direction and drives results through collaboration.
• Possesses technical expertise yet remains humble and open‑minded to new ideas.
• Is enthusiastic about mentoring more junior animators and able to give constructive feedback.

Responsibilities:

• Design character movement, timing, and responsiveness to enhance a consistent gameplay experience.
• Build gameplay animation workflows for combat, locomotion, and interaction.
• Collaborate with Design, Programming, and TA to ensure animations function correctly within game systems.
• Review animation work from team members and outsource artists and provide specific feedback.
• Improve animation production pipelines and systems including state machines and blending systems.
• Maintain animation production with performance and optimization in mind.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years’ experience for mid‑level/5+ years’ experience for senior level in game development or equivalent relevant experience, with at least 1 shipped game.
• Portfolio showcasing realistic, high‑quality characters, locomotion, and interactions presented in‑engine.
• A strong understanding of character animation pipelines.
• A deep understanding of core animation principles including timing, weight, and rhythm.
• Professional experience with animation workflows in Unreal Engine or Unity‑based engines.
• A deep understanding of state machines, blending, and root motion systems.
• Ability to self‑manage, prioritize tasks, and deliver under deadlines.
• Ability to work during Pacific Time zone business hours (10am-4pm) with regular ability to meet in the evenings (5-8pm PT) for international collaboration.
• Ability to travel internationally 1-3 times a year for business purposes.

We place greater weight on what level of results you achieved and in what kind of project/environment, rather than years of experience alone.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional fluency in English and Korean strongly preferred.
• Animation experience across a variety of genres (action, shooter, RPG, etc.).
• Experience working on combat‑focused or character‑control‑heavy games.
• Experience utilizing and cleaning motion capture data.
• Understanding of rigging and technical animation.
• Experience designing state machines and animation systems.
• Experience working on games developed across multiple countries.
• Multi‑platform (PC & Console) development experience.

What We Offer:

• A highly competitive total compensation package
• Comprehensive employer funded healthcare – ensuring you pay nothing out of pocket for in‑network medical care
• Employer‑paid premiums for dental, vision, short & long‑term disability, life insurance, and AD&D insurance
• Generous time off including 20 days of prorated PTO, 12 paid holidays and a studio‑wide holiday break annually
• Generous annual sick leave days to prioritize your well‑being
• Annual health & wellness, video game, and continuing education reimbursements
• Industry‑leading family planning and fertility care benefits, including gender‑affirming care, through Carrot Fertility
• Enjoy free catered lunches, meal reimbursements, and snacks and beverages for in office staff
• Engage in regular team outings and events to foster a positive work culture
• 401K with a company match for your financial well‑being

PUBG Studios provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.