Job Title:

Principal Technical Animator

Summary:

Join CI Games and be part of shaping the future of gaming. As we embark on an ambitious strategic roadmap with major releases planned for 2025-2028, we're seeking a talented and dedicated Principal Technical Animator to help create ground-breaking experiences that captivate players worldwide.

Overview:

A career at CI Games is about being part of a team working on creatively rewarding and ambitious projects. You would be welcomed to a dedicated and inclusive environment where you can learn and collaborate with talented people across the industry. CI Games has operated with fully remote teams since 2020, with most employees based throughout Europe.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Leadership & Pipeline Architecture:
  • Act as the studio's primary expert on Unreal animation technology, defining the technical vision for character pipelines, tools, and runtime systems.
  • Design, implement, and maintain complex animation systems within Unreal Engine, with a heavy focus on Animation Blueprints and Control Rig.
  • Research, prototype, and champion new techniques and technologies to enhance animation quality and workflow efficiency.
• Tooling, Rigging & Implementation:
  • Develop and support essential tools for the animation team using Python, Unreal Blueprints, and C++.
  • Oversee and contribute to the creation of high-quality character, weapon, and vehicle rigs that meet artistic and gameplay requirements.
  • Collaborate with engineers to solve complex technical challenges and ensure the performance and stability of animation systems.
• Mentorship & Cross-Team Collaboration:
  • Lead and mentor the Unreal technical animation team, fostering skills and providing clear technical guidance and feedback.
  • Serve as the key bridge between the animation, character art, and engineering teams, translating artistic needs into robust technical solutions.
  • Establish and document best practices for the technical animation pipeline to ensure consistency and quality across projects.

Role Notes:

• This is a highly technical role where you'll be expected to solve the most complex animation problems.
• You will need to balance the creative ambitions of the animation team with the technical constraints of the engine, requiring excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• As a principal, you are expected to mentor others; success will be measured by your ability to elevate the skills of the technical animation team.
• The role is fully remote and may present challenges related to remote collaboration.

Key Requirements:

• 7+ years of experience in technical animation, with a proven track record in a senior or lead role.
• Shipped multiple AA+ titles in a technical animation capacity.
• Master-level expertise with Unreal Engine, specifically Animation Blueprints, State Machines, and Control Rig.
• Strong proficiency with Unreal Blueprints and understanding of their integration with animation systems.
• Solid knowledge of dynamic asset types, in particular Physics and Cloth Assets.
• Extensive experience in developing and maintaining animation pipelines and tools.
• Exceptional skills in character rigging and skinning for realistic characters.
• Proven ability to mentor and lead other technical animators, providing clear and constructive guidance.
• Outstanding communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with artists and engineers.
• Desirable:
  • Proficiency in Python and/or C++.
  • Experience with procedural animation techniques.
  • Passion for and expertise in the Action-RPG or Soulslike genre.

What we offer:

• Attractive remuneration and annual discretionary bonus.
• Generous benefits supporting wellbeing.
• Opportunities for professional development within a supportive and collaborative team.
• Remote work with flexible schedules (core working hours 10am-4pm CET), allowing collaboration with talented individuals from around the world.
• An opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and stay at the forefront of the gaming industry.
• A diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Company events, access to all games released by CI Games and company merchandise.

Recruitment Process:

• Application review by Talent Acquisition and hiring team (CV, portfolio and answers from application form).
• Initial call with Talent Acquisition Specialist to discuss experience, expectations for fully remote work, expertise, and admin questions.
• Usually 1 or 2 interviews with the hiring team, more technical and deeper into experience, skills and knowledge; NDA will be signed and more about the project shared.
• A test may be requested on an individual basis.
• Final step is offer presentation call with the Talent Acquisition Specialist and future line manager.

Application details:

The posting indicates the application form is on the site. The public application form asks candidates for portfolio links, country of residence, salary expectations (ideally annual gross salary in EUR based on permanent employment contract), locations selection (Europe, CI Games SE) and personal information. CI Games notes they usually respond within two weeks.

About CI Games:

Established in 2002, CI Games is an independent video game developer and publisher known for titles such as Lords of the Fallen and Sniper Ghost Warrior. The company operates with fully remote teams since 2020 and has most employees based throughout Europe. Founded in 2002, the company reports around 180 co-workers.