Lead Animator Jobs at Epic Games, United States

Lead Animator Job Overview

• Company: Epic Games , the global leader in game development and creator of Unreal Engine .
• Role: Lead Animator for Fortnite , specializing in the creation of iconic emotes, dances, and IP collaborations.
• Location: Cary, North Carolina (Epic HQ) , offering a collaborative, world-class studio environment.
• Salary: Estimated range of $165,000 – $245,000 with 100% company-paid healthcare premiums.
• Job Type: Full-Time / Permanent position within the elite Art & Animation department.
• Core Tech: Mastery of Maya and Unreal Engine 5 , utilizing the internal ART toolset and motion capture.
• Leadership: Overseeing the animation lifecycle from initial concept to final in-engine implementation and vendor management.
• Experience: Requires a shipped title in a leadership role and a reel featuring high-quality character/creature keyframing.
• Style Focus: Expert-level understanding of rhythm, acting, and stylized motion for global cosmetic content.
• Perks: Unlimited PTO, a 7-year paid sabbatical, and a robust 401k match in a “Best-in-Class” benefits package.

Are you an elite creative leader with a passion for character performance, rhythm, and pop culture? Epic Games , the visionary creator of the Unreal Engine and the global sensation Fortnite , is searching for a Lead Animator to join our world-class Art & Animation department. This is not just one of many Senior Animator jobs ; this is a leadership pinnacle where you will oversee the iconic emotes and dances that define the social fabric of modern gaming.

Based in our headquarters in Cary, North Carolina , you will lead a team of high-caliber artists in crafting animations for a wide variety of global IP partners and Epic Original Content. If you have the rhythmic sensibilities of a choreographer, the technical mind of a game developer, and the leadership prowess of a creative director, we want to hear from you.

*Note: Epic Games offers highly competitive compensation packages. Final salary is determined by experience, specialized skills, and portfolio quality. Epic is known for a robust “Total Rewards” philosophy.

Why This Is the Industry’s Top Animator Job

At Epic, we believe that talented, passionate people are the core of our success. When you take on an Animator job within our Art & Animation department, you are entering a collaborative environment that prioritizes creativity and community impact.

The Epic Advantage:

• Cultural Impact: Your work will drive the visual style of Fortnite’s emotes—cultural touchstones that transcend the gaming industry.

• Unparalleled Benefits: Enjoy 100% paid health premiums, unlimited PTO, a generous 401k match, and a paid sabbatical every seven years.

• Cutting-Edge Tech: Work directly with the developers of Unreal Engine 5, using the most advanced animation tools available today.

• Global Collaboration: Lead internal artists and external vendor teams across a library of world-renowned IP and original characters.

Detailed Job Responsibilities

In this Animator job , you will act as a bridge between high-level artistic concepts and technical in-engine execution.

1. Creative Leadership & Emote Development

• Supervise Performance: Oversee the creation of character-specific animations, focusing on the timing, weight, and rhythm of dances and emotes.

• Concept to Final: Guide every animation from the initial concept phase through Maya keyframing to the final implementation in Unreal Engine.

• Brand Stewardship: Drive the evolving animation style of Fortnite, ensuring that every piece of cosmetic content feels “Epic.”

2. Technical Implementation & Tool Mastery

• UE5 Integration: Use the Unreal Editor and ART toolset to implement animations, ensuring they are optimized for a live-service environment.

• Mocap Pipeline: Lead the refinement of motion capture data, blending realistic movement with the stylized aesthetics that players love.

• Cross-Discipline Synergy: Collaborate with riggers, concept artists, and programmers to solve complex animation hurdles and innovate new gameplay systems.

3. Team Management & Mentorship

• Lead Talent: Supervise a growing team of animators, fostering a culture of innovation and high-performance excellence.

• Vendor Coordination: Manage external vendor teams to ensure their quality matches Epic’s world-class standards.

Qualifications for the Lead Animator Job

To land this prestigious Animator job , you must possess a blend of artistic brilliance and proven leadership history.

• Industry Experience: You must have shipped at least one major title in a leadership or supervisory capacity.

• Technical Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Maya and Unreal Engine is required.

• Artistic Instincts: An exceptional understanding of the fundamentals of acting, rhythm, and stylized vs. realistic motion.

• The Reel: A professional animation reel showcasing elite-level key-framed character and creature performances.

• Supplementary Skills: Knowledge of modeling, skinning, and rigging is highly desirable to assist in R&D and pipeline optimization.

Join the Team that Makes it Epic

Epic Games spans 25 countries with over 4,500 employees globally. We are an equal opportunity employer that deeply values diversity and inclusive culture. This Animator job in Cary, NC, offers the chance to work at the heart of our operations, surrounded by the talent that builds the future of 3D content.

Ready to apply for the most influential Animator job in gaming? Join Epic Games and help us build something legendary!