Senior Technical Gameplay Animator

Naughty Dog; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 126,400 - 227,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Wellness program

Employee discounts

Job summary

A leading gaming studio in Santa Monica is seeking an experienced Technical Animator to streamline animation processes and innovate high-quality systems. You will collaborate with various teams, define animation quality, and manage challenging projects. Candidates should have over 5 years of industry experience and proficient programming skills in Python, C#, and C++. The compensation ranges from $126,400 to $227,500, with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in technical animation for games.
• Full understanding of in-game animation systems.
• Proven track record of high-quality animation creation.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate creation and implementation of animation tools.
• Innovate animation pipeline processes.
• Collaborate with teams to resolve animation issues.
• Define and maintain animation quality bar.
• Mentor team members and contribute to internal strategies.

Skills

Technical animation experience in games

Proficiency in Python

Proficiency in C#

Proficiency in C++

Understanding of in-game animation tools

Expertise with mocap and keyframe pipelines

Job description

Ability to work hybrid from our Santa Monica, CA studio is required.

Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games for nearly 40 years, pushing the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. We recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered and a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. 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 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.

What you will do:

• Facilitate the creation and implementation of tools and techniques that allow the building of complex and high-quality animation systems
• Innovate and streamline animation pipeline processes and workflows
• Collaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges
• Create high quality animation content supporting the newly developed behaviors and systems and implement it in engine
• Work with the animation leadership on defining and maintaining the style and quality bar of the in-game animation
• Take ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentation
• Contribute to the strategic development of internal technologies and artistic processes

What skills you will use:

• 5+ years of industry experience in technical animation for games
• Proficiency in Python, C#, C++ or other programming languages is required
• Full understanding of in-game animation tools like state machines, blend trees, IK solvers, etc.
• Expertise with mocap and keyframe based digital content creation pipelines built on Maya or Motionbuilder
• Proven track record of creating visually stunning animations for diverse game genres
• Proactively contributes to the progress of the team and the project

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.

The estimated USA base pay range for this role (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that include annual bonus and other incentive plans.

Compensation and notices

The base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

In addition, this role is eligible for Sony Interactive Entertainment’s top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and employee discounts for Sony products. This role may also be eligible for a bonus package. The estimated base pay range for this role is $126,400 — $227,500 USD.

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