Technical Animator

AGBO; United States; On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent studio is seeking a Technical Animator to develop and implement animation content in Unreal Engine 5. The role requires 5+ years of experience, expertise in animating systems, and collaboration with artists and engineers to create a seamless animation pipeline. Ideal candidates will have a solution-oriented mindset and excellent technical communication skills. This temporary onsite position is located in Raleigh, NC and offers potential for extension based on project needs.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Technical Animation or Rigging/Animation TD role.
• Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine 5.
• Familiarity with scripting or tool development.

Responsibilities

• Own the character and animation implementation pipeline in Unreal Engine 5.
• Set up and manage UE5 character systems.
• Collaborate with artists and animators.

Skills

Technical Animation

Unreal Engine 5

Scripting in Python

Character Setup

Documentation Skills

Job description

Overview

Founded in 2017 by Anthony and Joe Russo, AGBO is an artist-led, Academy Award–winning independent studio redefining global storytelling across film, television, and gaming. With 15 number-one openings and over $7 billion at the box office, its projects include Avengers: Endgame, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Gray Man, and Extraction. AGBO is expanding storytelling through interconnected worlds across media, and is seeking bold, creative minds to help shape it.

Position Summary

AGBO is seeking a Technical Animator to champion the technical development and real-time implementation of animation content in Unreal Engine 5. This role will establish standards for character performance, animation systems, and rigging workflows across a project. You will work closely with artists, engineers, and animators to bridge creative vision with performance-optimized systems, ensuring a smooth and scalable animation pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the character and animation implementation pipeline in Unreal Engine 5, setting standards for performance, optimization, and development efficiency.
• Set up and manage UE5 character systems, including Skeletal Meshes, Animation Blueprints, Blend Spaces, Physics Assets, Montages, Layers, Morph Targets, and more.
• Collaborate with artists and animators to implement keyframe and motion-capture animation content.
• Establish scalable standards for character setup, including replication, customization systems, weapon attachments, and animation synchronization.
• Support advanced animation features such as animation sharing, retargeting, cloth physics, control rig, procedural animation, and Metahuman workflows.
• Provide guidance and documentation to the broader team to ensure consistency in rigging and animation practices.
• Troubleshoot performance and compatibility issues related to animation pipelines and assets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments including Art, Engineering, Virtual Production, and VFX to optimize pipelines and enhance real-time fidelity.

Qualifications & Skills

• 5+ years of experience in a Technical Animation, Technical Art, or Rigging/Animation TD role in games or real-time media.
• Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine 5, with hands-on experience setting up and optimizing character animation systems.
• Familiarity with scripting or tool development in Python, MEL, or equivalent.
• Deep understanding of character setup including replication logic, character composition through Blueprint, and real-time performance constraints.
• Experience working with a range of character types (bipedal, quadruped, serpentine) and adapting pipelines for each.
• Familiarity with Metahuman authoring and modification, including hair grooming, facial animation, and procedural rigging techniques.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills, especially when translating technical setups to artists or designers.
• Collaborative, solution-oriented mindset with the ability to adapt to evolving creative requirements.

Bonus

• Experience with animation dynamics, runtime animation blending, or facial rigging workflows.
• Familiarity with Niagara, Sequencer, or Live Link.
• Prior work on narrative-driven, cinematic, or cross-medium storytelling projects.
• Experience defining technical standards or mentoring others in rigging and character animation.

Additional Info

• Please submit a demo reel or portfolio showcasing relevant technical animation, rigging, or UE5 character implementation work. This is a temporary position with potential for extension based on project needs.
• This role is onsite in Raleigh, NC. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.

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