[Hiring] Senior Animator @Second Dinner

Role Description

Animation is the primary focus of this role. We're looking for someone who can create both expressive character performances and exceptional gameplay animation. Our characters need to feel compelling when viewed up close through facial expressions, acting, personality, and charm, while also feeling responsive, readable, and satisfying during gameplay.

You'll own animation from rigging and implementation through final polish. Most of your time will be spent creating animation, but because of our team's size, you'll also be expected to:

• Identify technical challenges and improve workflows.
• Occasionally step outside traditional discipline boundaries when it helps the project move forward.

This is a fully remote role. Much of the team's coordination happens asynchronously, so success requires:

• Clear written communication.
• Proactive updates.
• The ability to make progress without waiting for meetings or direction.

The strongest candidates tend to be builders. They make games outside of work, participate in game jams, create mods, experiment with new tools, or otherwise demonstrate a habit of learning and creating beyond their day job.

Qualifications

• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional animation work.
• Demonstrated strength in both character performance animation and gameplay animation.
• Strong understanding of character acting, facial expression, appeal, timing, and physicality.
• Strong understanding of gameplay readability, responsiveness, combat feel, and player feedback.
• Strong rigging skills.
• Experience implementing animation content in Unreal Engine.
• Comfort working directly in-engine to solve problems and iterate on content.
• The ability to independently own a discipline and make forward progress with minimal oversight.
• Strong written communication skills and comfort working in a fully remote, asynchronous environment.
• The ability to discuss technical and creative tradeoffs with designers, engineers, artists, and external partners.
• Comfort learning unfamiliar tools, workflows, or disciplines when doing so benefits the project.
• Comfort using AI-assisted tools as part of a modern game development workflow.

Requirements

• Experience as a Technical Animator, Tech Artist, Art Director, or other cross-disciplinary role (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Experience building tools, pipelines, procedural systems, or workflow automation (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Experience managing external vendors or outsourcing relationships (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Experience shipping an indie game, game jam project, mod, or significant personal project (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Experience working on small teams where individuals routinely contribute outside their primary discipline (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Experience with cooperative action games, boss-focused encounters, or other highly replayable multiplayer experiences (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Affinity for complex competitive games such as League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, or similar titles (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Experience with endgame MMO content such as raiding in World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, or similar games (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).
• Familiarity with anime-inspired visual styles, character archetypes, and modern anime storytelling conventions (Nice to Have, But Not Necessary).

Benefits

• This position pays a range of $60 - 70 per hour (USD).
• Individual pay within this range may span multiple levels within the discipline and is determined by assessed job-related skills, experience, relevant education, or training.
• The disclosed range is not adjusted based on location and may be subject to change or modification based on business needs in the future.
• This role is contracted through a third-party that provides health benefits, etc., which your recruiter can discuss more during the hiring process.

Company Description

We are an equal opportunity employer that places high value on diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military status, or veteran status.

You must be legally authorized to work and reside in the United States. We do not sponsor visas or support employment outside the U.S. for this role.