Lead Animator

Cloud Chamber is looking for a talented and articulate Lead Animator to manage and mentor our team of energetic animators. You will pilot the animation team’s efforts while maintaining the creative vision for the project, applying traditional animation principles to video games and partnering with the Animation Director, Lead Tech Animator, and Production to push the limits of what is possible. Job Details Manage and mentor a team of animators in the development of high‑end gameplay and AI animations. Develop the animation pipeline and workflows, with a continuous eye for improvement. Work with other department leads and animation leadership to plan for mocap sessions. Review dailies and lead review sessions with the animation team, giving constructive, actionable feedback. Actively collaborate with other disciplines to ensure animation goals are met in a timely manner. Work closely with Production to identify blocking issues, develop milestone roadmaps, participate in sprint planning and tasking, and delegate animation work. Share your experience, best practices, and animation know‑how to help team members grow. Take on a small animation workload when time permits. Take an active role in the animation leadership circle by sharing your voice and best practices to guide the culture of the animation team. Participate in the hiring process for the department, including the creation of job roles and responsibilities. Establish onboarding and training for the animation team regarding tools and processes, including Unreal Engine 5. Embrace and evangelize Cloud Chamber values: Act with Kindness, Lead With Courage, Dare To Be Original and Creative, Stand For Unity, and Embrace Diversity. Skills, Experience, and Qualifications Previous Lead, Team Lead, or coaching experience managing an animation department. Shipped multiple AAA titles, ideally using Unreal or a comparable engine. Exceptional knowledge of creating and maintaining gameplay and AI animation systems. Experience with animation graph and data integration. Experience working with Motion Capture data and pipelines. Experience with hand–key facial animation and tools such as FaceFx. Experience structuring and maintaining animation processes such as rigging or prototyping. Strong understanding of character performance, form, gesture, and silhouette for player characters and AI. Excellent understanding of anatomy and caricature. Exceptional skill animating human bipedal figures, organic forms, quadrupedal, and mechanical objects. Exemplary understanding of traditional animation principles and how they support gameplay. Strong organizational and communication skills, with a critical eye for detail. Highly detail‑oriented, deadline‑driven, and able to embrace change in a fast‑growing organization. Ability to problem‑solve and prioritize issues while developing a production pipeline. Strong collaborative and flexible spirit. Work ethic focused on dynamism and collaboration. Champion high standards, pushing for progress, embracing change, and challenging the status quo. Uncompromising ethics and unwavering integrity. Willingness to uphold Cloud Chamber values. Benefits and Compensation This is a fully remote role that may be based anywhere in the United States. Pay ranges for locations where the pay transparency law is in effect: Colorado: $115,000 – $150,000 per year California: $145,000 – $170,000 per year New York State (inclusive of New York City): $145,000 – $170,000 per year Washington: $115,000 – $150,000 per year Base pay is based on market location and may vary depending on individual qualifications and business considerations. Total compensation may include bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan. Full medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance are provided. Employees receive 14 paid holidays per calendar year, a minimum of 15 days of vacation leave per year (prorated based on start date), and 10 sick days per calendar year. If hired, the employee will be in an at‑will position. The company reserves the right to modify base salary and any other discretionary payment at any time based on performance, company or department performance, and market factors. #J-18808-Ljbffr