Senior Technical Designer in Animation

Socket.dev; Blank (MD); On-site; USD 178,112 - 315,803; Full time

Job summary

Epic Games is seeking a Senior Technical Designer in Animation (TDiA) to design and create gameplay animation systems that deliver high-quality character motion. You will be the primary contact for animation implementation issues and work with Animation, Design, and Engineering to ensure a smooth pipeline.

You will help bridge communication between teams, identify issues, and deploy solutions using your technical knowledge. This role opens across multiple US locations including CA, NYC, and WA.

Qualifications

• Strong animation sense with realistic and stylized motion understanding.
• Expertise with animation pipelines and tools like Maya/MotionBuilder; Unreal Engine in control rig workflows.
• Excellent problem-solving and clear written communication; team collaboration.
• Familiarity with animation gameplay concepts such as blend trees and state machines; Unreal Engine experience is a plus.
• Experience in AAA game development and large-team environments; self-motivated and independent work style.

Responsibilities

• Create animation behavior tools and techniques for complex movement systems.
• Design and implement animation state machines and runtime solutions.
• Collaborate with Animation, Design and Engineering to troubleshoot issues and improve pipelines.
• Work with leadership to maintain high style and quality for in-game animations.
• Identify improvements to animation workflows and produce documentation and training for the team.

Skills

Animation sense

Unreal Engine

Problem-solving

Written communication

Gameplay animation tools

Tools

Maya

MotionBuilder

Unreal Engine

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

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 Senior Technical Designer in Animation (TDiA) to join our team working across various animation systems. As a TDiA, you will use your animation sense and technical understanding of character animation to design and create gameplay animation systems that facilitate appealing, high-quality character motion. You will be the primary point of contact for animation implementation issues and any animation-related technical challenges, and you will work closely with Animation, Design, and Engineering colleagues to ensure the animation pipeline operates smoothly and efficiently. You will also help identify potential issues and deploy correct solutions, using your technical knowledge to help bridge and facilitate communication between the animation team and other departments.

In this role, you will

• Create animation behavior tools/techniques/philosophies that allow the building of complex movement systems
• Design and implement animation state machines/behaviors and runtime solutions
• Work closely with the Animation, Design, and Engineering departments to analyze, troubleshoot, and solve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges
• Closely collaborate with the animation leadership to maintain the style and quality bar for animations in the game
• Look for opportunities to improve the animation pipeline/workflow and help provide solutions for technical animation problems, including performing training and creating documentation for the animation team

What we\'re looking for

• A strong animation sense with a clear understanding of realistic and stylized character motion and how to achieve them with modern animation methods
• Expertise with animation pipelines, including source content creation tools such as Maya, MotionBuilder, and the Unreal Engine, using our Control Rig toolset
• Exceptional problem-solving ability with strong written communication and teamwork skills
• Familiarity with gameplay animation tools and concepts, such as blend trees and state machines; experience with Unreal Engine Animation Blueprints is a plus
• Experience with AAA game development, preferably on a large team using an established game engine (internal or commercial); experience with Unreal Engine is a plus
• Self-motivation, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work independently
• Coding knowledge or experience with C++ is not required

This role is open to multiple locations across the US (including CA, NYC, & WA).

Pay Transparency Information

The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren\'t limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic’s generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs).

New York City Base Pay Range

$189,482 — $315,803 USD

California Base Pay Range

$178,112 — $296,854 USD

Washington Base Pay Range

$178,112 — $296,854 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.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.