Gameplay Animator at Skydance Games
Company: Skydance Games
Location: Santa Monica, Los Angeles / Austin, Texas / Seattle, Washington / Remote
Job Type: Full-Time / Hybrid / Remote
Salary: $85,000 – $100,000 annually
About the Company
Skydance Games, a division of Paramount, is shaping the future of interactive entertainment across platforms and genres. The studio is currently expanding beloved franchises such as Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, delivering immersive, high-quality gaming experiences to global audiences.
The team emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and trust—empowering developers to innovate, share ideas openly, and build groundbreaking gaming experiences.
Job Overview
Skydance Games is seeking a skilled Gameplay Animator to join its core team working on a AAA single-player, story-driven action-adventure game using Unreal Engine. This role requires strong expertise in gameplay animation, motion capture, and real-time systems, with a focus on delivering cinematic and immersive player experiences.
Key Responsibilities
- Edit and fine-tune motion capture-based animation content daily
- Create rapid prototypes using hand-keyed placeholder animations
- Enhance mocap animations to achieve high-quality final results
- Collaborate with engineering, design, and animation teams to implement gameplay systems
- Ensure animation timing, expression, and style meet gameplay requirements
- Work closely with animation teams to meet quality standards and production timelines
- Participate in motion capture shoots
- Integrate gameplay animation with cinematic sequences
- Collaborate with animation directors to align with narrative vision
Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in gameplay animation
- Experience working on third-person action-adventure games
- Shipped at least one AAA title as a gameplay animator
- Strong understanding of advanced animation systems (Motion Matching, Motion Warping)
- Experience working in Unreal Engine or similar real-time environments
- Ability to rapidly prototype and iterate on animation systems
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Excellent time management and planning abilities
- Passion for cinematic and realistic animation
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Animation, Game Design, Computer Graphics, or a related field is preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- Opportunity to work on AAA game titles
- Flexible work options (remote/hybrid)
- Collaborative and creative work environment