Gaming Full-Time Work from Office

Lead Animator at 2K

Company: Cloud Chamber

Location: Novato, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Salary: $123,200 – $182,360 / Year

About the Role

Cloud Chamber, a game development studio under 2K, is seeking a Lead Animator to help create immersive character performances for its upcoming BioShock experience. Based in Novato, California, this role combines creative animation work with team leadership, mentoring, and production planning. You will help establish animation standards and deliver responsive gameplay and AI animations for a high-quality AAA game.

Job Overview

The Lead Animator will guide a team of animators while collaborating with design, art, engineering, production, and audio teams. The position involves refining animation workflows, supporting motion capture production, developing character animation pipelines, and creating polished hand-keyed and motion-capture-based animations. You will also contribute to hiring, team development, milestone planning, and the continuous improvement of animation quality using Unreal Engine 5.

Key Responsibilities

  • Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and support animators through regular one-on-one meetings, performance evaluations, goal setting, and constructive feedback.
  • Animation Direction: Partner with the Animation Director and studio leadership to establish animation goals, maintain quality standards, and encourage a collaborative team culture.
  • Gameplay Animation: Create and refine high-quality animations for player-controlled characters and AI, contributing hand-keyed animation and motion capture editing when required.
  • Pipeline Development: Improve animation tools, production workflows, onboarding processes, Unreal Engine 5 training, and motion capture planning.
  • Production Coordination: Collaborate with producers on milestones, sprint planning, task allocation, hiring, and the resolution of production blockers.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work with design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to integrate character performances into gameplay and cinematic experiences.
  • Technical Animation: Support animation graphs, animation data integration, rigging workflows, and prototyping processes to achieve responsive character movement.
  • Team Development: Share best practices with animation leadership, communicate emerging challenges, and contribute to a supportive environment focused on continuous improvement.

Qualifications

  • Experience shipping multiple AAA game titles as a Lead Animator, Team Lead, or Senior Animator, preferably using Unreal Engine.
  • Strong knowledge of gameplay and AI animation systems, animation graphs, motion capture pipelines, rigging, and animation prototyping.
  • Proficiency in hand-keyed facial animation tools such as FaceFX and experience animating human bipeds, quadrupeds, organic forms, and mechanical objects.
  • Excellent understanding of traditional animation principles, anatomy, gesture, form, caricature, and silhouette for real-time gameplay.
  • Strong leadership, communication, mentoring, organization, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  • Ability to manage changing priorities, work independently, respond to feedback, and maintain quality under pressure.

Education

  • A degree or diploma in Animation, Game Development, Computer Graphics, or a related field may be beneficial.
  • Equivalent professional experience in AAA game animation and team leadership may also be relevant.
  • A portfolio or demo reel showcasing gameplay animation, facial performance, motion capture editing, and character movement is recommended.

Benefits

  • Annual base salary ranging from $123,200 to $182,360, depending on experience, skills, and other relevant factors.
  • Potential bonus or equity awards, eligibility for a 401(k) plan, and participation in an Employee Stock Purchase Program, subject to applicable terms.
  • Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage.
  • Paid holidays, 15–25 days of annual vacation or eligibility for a discretionary time-off program, and up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year.
  • Paid parental and compassionate leave, wellness support, family planning assistance, commuter benefits, and fitness-related expense reimbursements.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can apply through the official 2K careers job board.

Required: Submit your resume or CV and include a portfolio, demo reel, or website demonstrating your gameplay animation, character performance, and leadership experience. Applicants should also be prepared to confirm their Unreal Engine 5 experience and authorization to work in North America.

Take the next step in your gaming career with the Lead Animator opportunity at Cloud Chamber. If you have experience leading animation teams, developing gameplay and AI animations, and working on AAA titles, you can contribute to the character performances and immersive world of BioShock. Review the official application page for complete requirements and application details.

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