Senior Technical Animator

Senior Technical Animator

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Technical Animator based in Switzerland.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in developing advanced animation technology for ambitious AAA/AA+ game projects. You will help shape character pipelines and runtime animation systems in Unreal Engine, with a strong focus on Animation Blueprints and Control Rig. The role combines hands-on technical animation, character rigging, scripting, optimization, and creative problem-solving. You will collaborate closely with animators, artists, engineers, and technical leadership to translate creative requirements into robust technical solutions. You will also research new techniques, improve workflows, and help establish best practices across the animation pipeline. As a senior contributor, you will provide guidance and mentorship to other technical animators while contributing to project planning and delivery. The position is fully remote and offers the flexibility to work with an international game development team from anywhere in Europe.

Accountabilities

• Contribute to the technical vision for character animation pipelines and runtime animation systems within Unreal Engine.
• Design, implement, and maintain complex animation systems, with particular emphasis on Animation Blueprints, State Machines, and Control Rig.
• Integrate new characters by creating and implementing Physics and Cloth assets and optimizing Level of Detail (LOD) settings.
• Research, prototype, and introduce new technical animation techniques that improve animation quality, production workflows, and team efficiency.
• Create and maintain high-quality character and weapon rigs in Maya using internal rigging tools and established technical standards.
• Skin high-density characters while ensuring high-quality and efficient deformation.
• Modify and adapt Python-based rig definitions to accommodate unique character requirements while maintaining consistency across the codebase.
• Work closely with engineers and other technical specialists to resolve complex technical challenges and ensure animation systems remain performant and stable.
• Partner with the Technical Animation Lead and Director to translate artistic and gameplay requirements into effective technical solutions.
• Provide technical guidance, feedback, coaching, and mentorship to junior and mid-level technical animators.
• Document technical animation workflows, standards, and best practices to promote consistency and quality across projects.
• Track progress, contribute to task evaluation and scheduling, and communicate upcoming priorities effectively.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of professional experience in technical animation within the games industry, including experience operating at a senior level.
• Proven experience shipping at least one AA+ game title in a technical animation role.
• Expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine , particularly Animation Blueprints, State Machines, and Control Rig.
• Strong understanding of dynamic asset systems, especially Physics and Cloth assets.
• Demonstrated expertise in Maya character rigging and skinning , particularly for realistic characters and high-density assets.
• Strong proficiency in Python tools programming and the ability to modify and maintain Python-based rigging systems.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with artists, animators, engineers, and technical leadership.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and an interest in researching new technical approaches and improving animation workflows.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a distributed, multidisciplinary team.
• C++ proficiency is desirable.
• Experience with procedural animation techniques is an advantage.
• Passion for and knowledge of the Action-RPG or Soulslike genre is desirable.
• A gameplay portfolio demonstrating relevant technical animation and rigging work is expected; creature-related work is particularly welcome.
• Applicants must have the right to work in the country where they reside.

Benefits:

• 5-month freelance contract with an immediate start.
• Fully remote work arrangement.
• Flexible working schedule with core collaboration hours from 10 AM to 4 PM CET .
• Opportunity to work on ambitious, high-profile game projects with cutting-edge animation technology.
• Collaboration with talented international artists, animators, engineers, and game development professionals.
• Opportunity to contribute to advanced Unreal Engine animation systems and modern technical animation workflows.
• International and diverse remote working environment.
• Inclusive workplace committed to welcoming people regardless of background, identity, age, disability, or social status.
• Opportunity to work from the Netherlands while collaborating with a distributed European team.
• Freelance compensation structured around a daily rate in EUR , with the rate determined based on experience and engagement terms.