Principal Animator – UE5 (Sports / Action / Simulation Games)

Refactor Games; Beverly Hills (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading AAA sports video game studio is looking for a Principal Animator to create stunning animations for their upcoming sports game. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience, including leadership in animation, and must be proficient in Unreal Engine 5. Responsibilities include executing high-level animations and mentoring junior animators. The position is full-time, located in Beverly Hills, CA, with a competitive salary between $71,000 and $80,000.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience, including 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience shipping high-performance console and/or PC titles.
• Strong understanding of animation principles and approaches.

Responsibilities

• Execute high-level animations.
• Mentor and guide the animation team.
• Collaborate with other disciplines on project features.

Skills

Animation principles

Collaboration with various departments

Strong communication skills

Experience with motion capture

Technical knowledge of animation pipelines

Tools

Maya

Motion Builder

Unreal Engine 5

Shotgrid

Jira

Job description

Principal Animator – UE5 (Sports / Action / Simulation Games)

Refactor Games is a AAA sports video game studio. We are developing the next generation of professional football (soccer) video games using Unreal Engine 5.

About the Job

We are seeking a highly skilled and talented Principal Animator to create stunning and realistic animations for our upcoming sports game. The ideal candidate is passionate, self‑motivated, able to assess and articulate in‑game animation systems, experienced and willing to mentor and guide more junior team members, and has a strong understanding of animation approaches and aesthetics.

Responsibilities

• Execute high‑level animations
• Mentor and guide the animation team
• Implement in‑game animations, including UE5 integration
• Review animation elements and provide feedback when required
• Ensure animations align with project standards and the overall visual style of the game
• Collaborate with other disciplines on project features and development arcs
• Contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional experience, including 2+ years in a leadership or mentoring role
• Proven experience shipping high‑performance console and/or PC titles
• Strong technical knowledge of animation pipelines
• Experience with Maya, Motion Builder, and UE5
• Experience with motion capture
• Strong understanding of animation principles and approaches
• Experience collaborating with technical teams and developing/refining animation systems in UE5
• Experience with both in‑game animation and cinematic presentation animation
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate with various departments and disciplines
• Experience mentoring animators
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines

Pluses

• Experience on sports titles
• Appreciation of sports and sports games
• Experience with Shotgrid, Jira, or similar production tracking software
• Experience with real‑time broadcast presentation

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Location: Culver City, CA

Salary: $71,000.00 – $80,000.00

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