3D Animator (Unannounced Internal IP)

We are developing our first original internal IP and are looking for a 3D Animator to join the team and help bring the game's characters and creatures to life. You will be responsible for creating animations for the characters and creatures of our game. You will work closely with our Art Lead and wider development team to create animations that support the game's visual style, gameplay, and overall feel. The role will involve working across the animation pipeline, from creating and refining animations through to implementing and iterating on them in-engine. We are looking for someone with a strong understanding of animation principles, experience working in real-time games, and familiarity with modern 3D art and animation software. Experience with Unreal Engine and its animation tools and pipelines is highly valuable, particularly for candidates who can demonstrate an understanding of how animation translates from DCC software into a playable game. This is a full-time contract position, with a strong preference for candidates who can work on-site from our Auckland office. For the right candidate, we may be able to support remote work within New Zealand. Please note, you must have the right to work in New Zealand to be eligible for this position. We highly value diversity. Regardless of disability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or any other aspect of your culture or identity, you have an important role to play in our team. Contract Rate: NZD $32 – $41.50 / hr Key Responsibilities: Create high-quality character and creature animations for a melee action game. Animate a range of gameplay actions, movement, combat, and other character behaviours. Work closely with the Art Lead and development team to ensure animations fit the game's visual style and gameplay requirements. Develop and iterate on animations based on feedback and gameplay testing. Prepare and implement animation assets for use in a real-time game environment. Help identify and resolve animation issues during development. Contribute to the development and refinement of the game's animation pipeline and processes. Job Requirements: Prior experience as a 3D Animator within game development. Strong understanding of core animation principles. Experience creating character and creature animations for real-time games. Familiarity with modern 3D art and animation software (such as Blender, Maya, Houdini, or Unreal Engine). Good understanding of how animation needs to be created and prepared for use in a real-time game. Ability to work collaboratively with artists, designers, and engineers. Strong communication skills and an ability to take feedback and iterate quickly. Additional Valuable Skills: The following skills are not required for success in this role, but experience in these areas may provide additional opportunities to contribute and help shape the project and studio. Experience with Unreal Engine animation tools and pipelines. Experience with rigging and character setup. Experience creating melee combat animations. Experience working with motion capture and cleaning or editing mocap data. #J-18808-Ljbffr