Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

From dodgeball in the streets to racetracks in your living room, we've always been more interested in asking "what if?" than following a roadmap. Whether we're dreaming up a chaotic game of hide & seek in the dark or putting a legendary space fox back in the pilot's seat, that inventor's mindset runs through everything we do. We make games for people who appreciate craft and a little bit of magic. If you're curious, you'll be in good company.

We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with the experience and passion to drive our gameplay mechanics to the next level. You’ll play a key role in defining how our characters move, respond and feel, crafting animation that’s both expressive and tightly integrated with gameplay. You should be equally comfortable working in a small, fast-paced prototyping team as you are creating polished, production-quality animation for larger projects. You will be actively collaborating with artists, engineers and designers to develop amazing gameplay feel. And your passion for bringing characters to life should only be matched by your love of diving into engine to bring all your animations together for an unforgettable gameplay experience.

Senior Gameplay Animator Responsibilities

• Help define and drive the game’s animation style with expressive, solid body mechanics that makes gameplay feel amazing.
• Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes to polished game performances.
• Drive in-engine development with excellent engine competency, including animation systems, state machines and other procedural animation techniques.
• Collaborate with designers and engineers to explore new ideas, solve tricky gameplay challenges, and push what’s possible through animation.
• Document tools and workflows.
• Mentor other animators, offering feedback, guidance, and support.
• Champion animation across the studio — always pushing for clarity, responsiveness, and that breath of life within every press of a button.
• Project Lead role based on project*

What is expected of an Art Lead at Velan Studios?

Lead roles are assigned on a per-project basis and not tied directly to the level of an employee’s position.   Leads champion best practices that relate to their area of expertise but also represent all aspects of it in interdisciplinary discussions regarding scope, planning, tools, features and team updates.    

As the project matures, leads may also be part of hiring and mentoring of any additional artists that might be needed within their field to accomplish project goals in a timely manner and to a high level of quality.  Leads may also be expected to help assess their performance and aid in their career development. 

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional experience animating for games, with a focus on gameplay.
• A standout demo reel that shows clear body mechanics, timing, and personality.
• Expert in Maya or equivalent 3D animation software.
• Hands-on experience working in-engine, with focus on general state machine structures.
• Proactive and self-directed, with a good sense of when to explore and when to get things done.
• Able to effectively communicate technical needs and issues to Engineering/Tech Art/Design.
• Above all, deeply curious and passionate about creating responsive, character forward animation that makes gameplay feel amazing.

Big Pluses

• Experience leading small animation teams or driving animation direction
• Reel should include game or engine captures of your animations in gameplay context.
• Familiarity with motion matching, procedural animation, or other modern runtime techniques.
• Generalist skills in modeling, rigging, or related areas.
• A passion for game design and how animation supports player feedback, pacing, and readability
• Experience with motion capture.
• Basic scripting or tool-building experience (Python, MEL, or similar) to streamline workflows or prototype ideas.

This is a hybrid or onsite position. Hybrid is 3 days a week in studio. Our studios are located in Troy, NY and Toronto, ON.

The salary for this position is typically within the range specified below* per year. Please note that the actual base pay may vary based on factors such as your qualifications, skills, experience, and other relevant considerations. In addition to your salary, our comprehensive compensation package includes various perks, such as potential annual bonuses (though they are not guaranteed), health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays, and flexible time-off benefits.

Canada Salary Ranges
Senior: $85,000. - $120,000. CAD
Specialist: $110,000.-$150,000. CAD

Velan Studios is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about a role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to submit a General Application. Velan Studios is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion, diversity, and providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. We seek to create a work culture that matches the diversity of our players.