Senior Gameplay Animator

Naughty Dog; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Naughty Dog in Santa Monica, CA, is seeking an experienced Senior Gameplay Animator to join our team on a temporary basis. You will craft high-quality, systemic animation content for our next-generation titles and collaborate across Animation, Design, and Engineering to push the gameplay feel.

You should have shipped AAA titles, strong Maya/MotionBuilder skills, and hands-on experience with motion capture and in-game tooling.

Qualifications

• Create high-quality animation content in Maya and integrate in the game engine.
• Collaborate with Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to create new exciting, mind-blowing systemic animations.
• Mentor team members and create documentation for processes.
• Direct and participate in motion capture shoots.
• Learn Naughty Dog gameplay systems and tools.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions.
• Define and uphold the style and quality bar for in-game animations.
• Identify and resolve gameplay issues with designers and programmers.
• Provide constructive feedback to improve internal workflows and artistic processes.
• Take on additional responsibilities as needed.

Skills

AAA game dev

Gameplay animation

Motion capture

Keyframe animation

Maya

MotionBuilder

State machines

Blend trees

Mocap tools

Strong communication

Tools

Maya

MotionBuilder

Job description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

This is a hybrid / onsite position based at our studio in Santa Monica, CA

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Parts I & II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us.

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together. We'd love to find an experienced gameplay animator to join us!

What you’ll do:

• Create high-quality animation content in Maya and ensure proper implementation in our game engine
• Serve as a positive role model through exemplary demeanor, ability, proactivity, communication, and productivity
• Collaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to create new exciting, mind-blowing systemic animations
• Take ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentation
• Direct and participate in motion capture shoots
• Learn and master Naughty Dog’s unique gameplay systems
• Work with game systems, adhering to efficient and effective practices
• Utilize engine debug tools to identify and resolve gameplay issues in collaboration with designers and programmers
• Partner with animation leadership to define and uphold the style and quality bar for in-game animations
• Provide constructive feedback to improve internal technologies and artistic workflows
• Take on additional responsibilities as needed

What skills you will use:

• Minimum of 1 shipped AAA game as a Senior Gameplay Animator (or equivalent)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the video game industry
• Expertise in systemic gameplay animation
• Mastery of both motion capture and keyframe character animation as showcased by your strong animation reel
• General technical knowledge of animation technologies, including state machines, blend trees, and motion matching
• Passion for gaming and a deep understanding of game design principles and player experience
• Ability to provide clear and constructive feedback to peers
• Proven experience planning, setting up, and directing motion capture shoots independently and efficiently
• Must be comfortable using a script editor
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt quickly to challenges
• Highly motivated, proactive, and solution-oriented, with a "can-do" attitude
• A natural team player who fosters collaboration and inspires others across departments
• Strong communication skills, ensuring clear and proactive interaction with animation and other teams
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, manage shifting priorities, and keep stakeholders informed
• Proactive in taking ownership of assignments and identifying new opportunities to support the team and company goals
• Proficient with Maya/MotionBuilder animation tools, including layers, time/trax editor, and mocap tools

Bonus Skills:

• Experience developing animation tools is a plus
• Character rigging experience is a plus
• Experience setting up in-game physics assets is a plus

As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an animation test.

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At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.

Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.

$69.52 — $86.93 USD

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