Technical Animator

Epic Games; New York (NY); On-site; USD 147,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Epic Games is seeking a Technical Animator to advance expressive character movement for Rocket League and related IP. You will collaborate with artists, vendors, and internal teams to influence rigging, tooling, and pipeline improvements across high-profile projects.

Join a team focused on developing robust animation workflows, blueprints, and real-time engine integration, while contributing to trailers and cinematic sequences.

Qualifications

• Rig characters, props, and vehicles in Maya and ensure clean deformation.
• Show proficiency in rigging for bodies and faces with strong animation samples.
• Demonstrate understanding of animation principles and timing for game characters.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine 5 art pipeline and animation blueprints is preferred.
• Develop and maintain Python scripts/tools to accelerate animation workflows.

Responsibilities

• Rig and animate characters, props, and vehicles.
• Set up assets in Unreal Engine 5 including cloth, physics, blueprints, and control rig.
• Collaborate with modelers, animators, and engineers to ensure a smooth pipeline.
• Develop, maintain, and expand robust Python scripts and tools to accelerate animation workflows.
• Assist with pipeline tools and work with engine/project leads on tool improvements.
• Create high-quality keyframe animations for gameplay features.

Skills

Rigging in Maya

Storytelling through animation

Animation principles

Strong collaboration

Python scripting

Character pipelines

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Python

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

Psyonix is searching for a Technical Animator with a passion for expressive character movement to work on Rocket League. In this talented team of veteran and emerging artists, you’ll collaborate with an internal team, but also will include work with vendors and specifically contribute directly to high-profile trailers related to Rocket League and other IP related projects.

Joining this team means you’re motivated to seek solutions to problems and work with other artists to make positive changes to models, movements, and tools. The heart of this role is rigging, pipeline, animation, and tooling.

In this role, you will

• Rig and animate characters, props, and vehicles
• Set up assets in Unreal Engine 5; including cloth, physics, blueprints, control rig
• Work closely with modelers, animators, and gameplay engineers to ensure a smooth development pipeline that delivers high-quality assets
• Develop, maintain, and expand robust Python scripts and tools to accelerate animation workflows
• Assist with pipeline tools and working with engine and project leads on continuous improvement of those engine tools
• Create high-quality keyframe animations for characters, creatures, and vehicles when needed for gameplay features

What we're looking for

• Extensive experience rigging characters in Maya
• A portfolio demonstrating rigging for a range of vehicles, characters, creatures, both body and faces (showing both rigging/technical setup and strong keyframe animation examples is a big plus)
• Attention to aesthetic detail, especially with regards to character deformation and physics movement
• Solid understanding of animation principles
• Familiarity with the Unreal Engine 5 art pipeline, animation blueprints, and physics
• Positive individual with strong written communication and teamwork skills
• Basic knowledge of AI tools to improve workflow and project pipeline
• Exceptional problem-solver
• Experience developing character pipelines and tools

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$146,901—$215,455 USD

California Base Pay Range$129,273—$189,600 USD

Washington Base Pay Range$117,521—$172,365 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.