Principal Product Designer, Robot Animation and Character

Join Amazon.com Services LLC (Fauna Robotics, an Amazon company) to shape how robots feel in motion. In this onsite role in New York, NY, you will define a consistent robot character and build expressive, performance-ready animation language through iterative testing on real hardware. As a Principal Product Designer focused on robot animation and character, you will own the creative bar for key performances, translating character intent into animation artifacts that other teams can build with. You will also refine motion vocabulary based on how the robot reads from different angles and how it performs within physical constraints. What you'll do Craft the robot’s key performances from concept and blocking through final motion, setting the character and quality bar within the animation itself Build an expressive motion vocabulary including locomotion styles, conversational gesture, emotional reactions, idle behavior, and the small moments that make the character feel alive Define the robot’s personality, including point of view, emotional range, and behavioral signature, and keep it consistent as the product evolves Iterate on real hardware by testing how performances read in person from every angle, refining timing and weight until the motion lands Use motion capture and reference when helpful, then adapt and refine performances for the robot’s form factor and joint constraints Create animation-ready artifacts that capture character intent, including performance references, motion studies, behavioral scripts, and concept videos What you bring 12+ years of professional experience in character animation A reel is required and must demonstrate authorship of character and personality through motion, including timing, weight, appeal, and performance Mastery of animation craft across characters and emotional registers, from broad performance to subtle, quiet moments Experience taking a character from concept through finished, polished animation Ability to work within real production or technical constraints while preserving performance Preferred qualifications Background in feature, episodic, or games animation, or themed entertainment, where animation drives character and story Experience animating stylized or non-human characters such as robots, creatures, or mascots where personality must come through a non-human form Experience with physically embodied characters, including robots, animatronics, or real-time/interactive systems where motion plays out in the physical world Experience with motion capture, including directing sessions, cleaning data, and retargeting to non-human characters Comfort working within physical or real-time constraints (joint and timing limits, hardware platforms) without losing the performance Experience defining character for a new product or franchise where no performance language exists yet Compensation and benefits The salary range for this role is USD 162,600 to 284,600 per year . Sign-on payments Restricted stock units (RSUs) Health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription) Basic Life & AD&D insurance Option for Supplemental life plans EAP Mental Health Support Medical Advice Line Flexible Spending Accounts Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage 401(k) matching Paid time off Parental leave #J-18808-Ljbffr