Principal Technical Animator

Job Overview Lightspeed Studios is looking for a Lead Technical Animator to guide the architecture and implementation of advanced animation systems for AAA projects. Responsibilities Lead the architecture design of animation state machines, animation trees, and animation pipelines. Establish technical specifications and best practices; provide clear technical roadmaps for the team. Dive deep into complex technical challenges within animation systems. Drive the adoption and production deployment of cutting‑edge animation technologies (Motion Matching, procedural animation, physics‑based animation) in AAA projects. Build animation quality review mechanisms and evaluation systems. Systematically ensure and elevate the ceiling of in‑game animation quality. Act as a core expert in technical animation, mentor and develop team members. Drive technical alignment and effective collaboration across disciplines (Animation, Design, Engineering, Engine). Lead the engine integration of complex animation systems. Solve end‑to‑end technical challenges from DCC toolchains to runtime. Ensure the delivery of highest‑quality animations. Stay current with cutting‑edge technology trends, evaluate the feasibility of new technologies, and provide forward‑looking technical roadmap recommendations for the team. Qualifications 8+ years of game industry experience. 5+ years of technical animation experience on AAA projects. Proven track record of leading complete animation system architecture design. Proficient with animation DCC software such as Maya. Capable of producing top‑tier quality animations independently. Deep understanding of animation principles. Expert in animation state machine and animation tree architecture design and performance optimization. Hands‑on experience with large‑scale state machine optimization. Deep understanding of game engine (Unreal Engine) animation system internals, performance bottlenecks, and resolution strategies. Excellent technical communication and influence; able to drive technical decisions and effectively persuade cross‑functional teams. Nice to have: Experience with DCC tool development or engine‑side development (C++ / Blueprints). Nice to have: Hands‑on experience with cutting‑edge directions such as Motion Matching, Control Rig, procedural animation, physics‑based animation. Location & Compensation Location: US‑California‑Los Angeles Expected base pay range: $138,800.00 to $261,400.00 per year. Benefits Sign‑on payment, relocation package, and restricted stock units evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis. Medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits, and participation in the company’s 401(k) plan. Up to 15–25 days of vacation per year (depending on tenure). Up to 13 days of holidays per calendar year. Up to 10 days of paid sick leave per year. Equal Employment Opportunity Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals. #J-18808-Ljbffr LightSpeed Studios