Principal Technical Animator

Hangar 13 / 2K is recruiting for the role of Principal Technical Animator. Principal Technical Animator (Gameplay) helping define the technical vision, architectural framework and long-term strategy for character animation integration. The role focuses on technical authority, R&D, pipeline work and collaboration across design, animation and engineering.

Role details

• Location: Brighton & Hove

What you’ll do

• Architect and oversee the high-level design of gameplay animation systems.
• Drive R&D to evaluate and implement cutting-edge animation technologies.
• Work with Engineering and Tech Animation leadership on project-wide roadmaps and toolsets.
• Solve runtime bugs and improve animation performance and memory use.
• Define technical standards, best practices and pipeline workflows for the technical animation team.
• Collaborate with Design and Animation leads on 3C mechanics.
• Mentor and upskill senior and mid-level technical animators.

What they’re looking for

• Extensive proven experience architecting and integrating gameplay animation systems for AAA titles using Unreal Engine.
• Master-level expertise in Unreal Engine’s animation suite.
• Deep technical understanding of runtime optimisation, memory management and threading for animation.
• Exceptional cross-discipline communication skills.
• Experience in feature breakdown and scoping, with production-ready planning.
• A strong understanding of gameplay mechanics, game feel and the mathematics of smooth character movement and physics.
• A portfolio or reel showing complex, innovative technical animation work in shipped titles.

Additional role information

• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python is highly desirable.
• Experience with proprietary engine tools or custom Unreal animation code is highly desirable.
• Production experience with Maya API, MotionBuilder or Houdini is highly desirable.