Technical Animator

Description This client is developing next-generation animated avatars to support employee training and accessibility initiatives through real-time 3D character experiences in Unreal Engine. We are seeking a skilled Technical Animator with expertise in Unreal Engine, MetaHuman workflows, Control Rig development, and motion‑capture integration. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in character animation and rigging, with specialized experience creating realistic and expressive hand, finger, and upper‑body movements. This role is critical to the development of characters where precision, natural motion, and character believability are essential. Key Responsibilities Import, retarget, clean, and optimize motion‑capture data for real‑time playback in Unreal Engine. Design, build, and maintain animation rigs and Control Rigs for MetaHuman and Unreal‑based characters. Create and refine highly detailed hand and finger animations that support accurate sign language communication and natural character performance. Develop facial animation assets including expressions, eye gaze behaviors, and idle states. Implement and maintain Animation Blueprints, Blend Spaces, Montages, State Machines, and animation layers within Unreal Engine. Prototype and iterate on signing gestures, transitions, conversational behaviors, and avatar interactions. Collaborate with engineers, designers, and accessibility specialists to ensure animation quality and technical performance. Produce demos and visual assets for stakeholder reviews and deployment readiness. Establish animation standards, documentation, naming conventions, and pipeline best practices. Additional Skills & Qualifications Required Qualifications 4+ years of experience in Technical Animation, Character Animation, Game Development, Virtual Production, or Interactive Media. Advanced proficiency in Unreal Engine animation systems, including Animation Blueprints, Control Rig, Blend Spaces, Montages, and Sequencer. Experience building and maintaining character rigs for MetaHuman or Unreal Engine skeletons. Hands‑on experience importing, retargeting, cleaning, and integrating motion‑capture data. Strong understanding of character rigging, skinning, deformation, body mechanics, and animation principles. Demonstrated expertise animating realistic hands, fingers, gestures, and nuanced character performances. Proficiency in Maya, Blender, or comparable 3D animation software. Ability to rapidly prototype, iterate, and respond to technical and creative feedback. Preferred Qualifications Experience with gesture‑based communication. Experience creating Control Rigs specifically for hand articulation, finger posing, and detailed gesture animation. Knowledge of facial performance capture, FACS‑based animation systems, and facial rig customization. Experience with MetaHuman pipelines, including facial animation, retargeting, LOD management, and rig customization. Experience with virtual humans, digital avatars, or real‑time character systems. Familiarity with Perforce or similar version control systems. Experience in AAA games, cinematics, VFX, or virtual production environments. Experience Level Intermediate Level Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $46.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long‑term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Seattle, WA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jul 24, 2026. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools. #J-18808-Ljbffr