Naughty Dog is hiring Senior Gameplay Animator

Job Overview

• Company Name: Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment

• Position Title: Senior Gameplay Animator

• USA Base Pay Range: $126,400 – $227,000 USD

• Employment Type: Full-time

• Location: Santa Monica / Los Angeles, CA

• Work Model: Hybrid / On-site

• Incentives: Annual Bonus & Additional Incentive Plans

• Current Project: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

Naughty Dog , the world-renowned developer behind The Last of Us and Uncharted series, is currently seeking a Senior Gameplay Animator . Known for pushing the boundaries of interactive storytelling and technical fidelity, the studio—affectionately known as “The Kennel”—is currently developing its next major title: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet .

This is a high-impact role requiring a blend of elite artistic sensibility and deep technical expertise. As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will be responsible for defining the movement language of characters and creatures, ensuring that every frame of animation serves both the gameplay mechanics and the narrative immersion.

The Role: Innovating at the Frontier of Animation

At Naughty Dog, gameplay animation is not a secondary concern; it is the core of the player’s emotional connection to the world. You will work within a highly collaborative environment, bridging the gap between the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams.

Core Responsibilities

1. Systems Development & Tooling

• Advanced Implementation: Facilitate the creation of complex, high-quality animation systems that allow for seamless character movement.

• Pipeline Innovation: Streamline and innovate the animation pipeline to ensure the “Kennel” remains at the forefront of the industry.

• Technical Strategy: Contribute to the strategic development of internal technologies and proprietary artistic processes.

2. Animation Content & Quality

• High-Fidelity Creation: Develop high-quality animation content for new character behaviors and systems, implementing them directly into the game engine.

• Style Maintenance: Work with animation leadership to define and maintain the quality bar, ensuring the “Naughty Dog look”—characterized by weight, momentum, and emotional nuance.

• Troubleshooting: Analyze and resolve in-game animation implementation issues, ranging from IK solver glitches to complex state machine transitions.

3. Leadership & Mentorship

• Project Ownership: Take full ownership of challenging animation projects from concept to final polish.

• Mentoring: Provide guidance to mid-level and junior team members, fostering a culture of growth and shared knowledge.

• Documentation: Create thorough documentation of new techniques and workflows to build a lasting internal knowledge base.

• Candidate Requirements & Skills

  This is a senior-level position requiring a “ Technical Animator ” mindset—someone who can create beautiful motion while understanding exactly how that motion is computed in real-time.

  Professional Experience

  • Industry Veteran: Minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in technical animation for AAA games.

  • Proven Track Record: A portfolio demonstrating visually stunning animations across diverse genres, with a focus on realism and character-driven movement.

  Technical Proficiencies

  • Programming/Scripting: Proficiency in Python, C#, or C++ is required to facilitate tool creation and pipeline automation.

  • Engine Tools: A deep understanding of in-game animation systems, including State Machines, Blend Trees, and IK Solvers .

  • DCC Expertise: Expert-level mastery of Maya or Motionbuilder , specifically within motion capture (mocap) and keyframe-based pipelines.

Diversity, Demographics, and Inclusion in Game Development

Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) have made significant strides in fostering an inclusive environment. Understanding the broader demographic landscape of the industry provides context for Naughty Dog’s commitment to diverse candidate recruitment.

Industry Demographics (General Statistics)

According to recent industry-wide surveys (such as those by the IGDA and various studio transparency reports):

• Gender Representation: In AAA game development, approximately 24% to 30% of the workforce identifies as women. Naughty Dog actively encourages female and non-binary applicants to bridge this historical gap.

• Ethnic & Racial Diversity (USA):

  • White/Caucasian: ~64%

  • Asian: ~16%

  • Hispanic/Latinx: ~8%

  • Black/African American: ~4%

  • Multi-ethnic/Other: ~8%

• Inclusion Initiatives: PlayStation Studios, including Naughty Dog, operates several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support Black, LGBTQ+, and female developers. Their “Fair Chance” hiring policy ensures that qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records are considered, prioritizing current skill and character over past history.

Compensation, Perks, and The Naughty Dog Lifestyle

Naughty Dog is famously located in the Los Angeles area, offering a competitive salary range that reflects the high cost of living and the elite skill level required.

Financial Rewards

• Competitive Base: A wide salary band ($126k – $227k ) allows for growth and recognizes specialized technical skill sets.

• Incentives: Eligibility for annual bonuses and other long-term incentive plans (LTIPs) based on studio and individual performance.

Benefits & Wellbeing

• Comprehensive Health: Elite medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.

• Retirement & Savings: Competitive 401(k) matching and financial planning resources.

• Work-Life Integration: A hybrid work model that balances the creative energy of on-site collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

• Studio Culture: Known for “The Kennel” atmosphere—a place of high standards, intense creative passion, and a shared pride in producing “Game of the Year” contenders.

Working Conditions: The Los Angeles Hub

The position is based in the Los Angeles zone, the global epicenter of entertainment.

• Environment: A studio environment that prizes “attention to detail” and “character-driven” storytelling.

• On-Site Collaboration: While hybrid options exist, the role requires proximity to the studio to facilitate real-time collaboration with Engineering and Design teams on complex animation behaviors.

Equal Opportunity & Fair Chance Statement

Sony Interactive Entertainment is an Equal Opportunity Employer . They do not discriminate based on gender identity, race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Furthermore, as a Fair Chance Employer , Naughty Dog considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with local and federal laws, focusing on the individual’s ability to contribute to the future of play.

How to Apply

Naughty Dog maintains a rigorous selection process to ensure that only the most dedicated and technically proficient animators join the team.

Submission Requirements:

1. Portfolio/Demo Reel: Essential. This must showcase your technical implementation (nodes/blend trees) as well as your final artistic output.

2. Animation Test: Shortlisted candidates will likely be asked to complete a specific animation or technical implementation test.

3. Documentation Sample: Highlighting your ability to communicate complex systems to others.

Ready to help craft the next narrative masterpiece? Join Naughty Dog and define the future of interactive animation.

]]><