Lead Animator
San Mateo, California, United States
Posted 23 hours ago
Last seen 23 hours ago
Active
full-time
Animation - 31st Union
$123,200 and $182,360 per year
Job Summary
Join 31st Union as a Lead Animator to shape the visual style of exciting games, mentor a talented team, and bring captivating gameplay experiences to life using Unreal Engine and Maya. This is an opportunity to lead by example and significantly impact game development.
About this job
This role is for a Lead Animator to guide and mentor a team while creating high-quality in-game animations. You will implement animations in Unreal Engine, define animation style, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver polished gameplay experiences. The position involves driving visual style, providing feedback, and contributing to team success.
Requirements
- 6–8+ years of experience in game development, including at least one shipped AAA title in an animation role.
- 2–4+ years of experience in a leadership role and/or mentoring experience.
- Familiar with Unreal Engine, including animation systems, asset integration, and runtime considerations, with advanced knowledge of Maya.
- Nimble and able to prioritize and problem-solve quickly, while responding effectively to creative redirection.
- Strong collaboration and communication skills within and across fields, with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
- An animation reel that demonstrates high-quality hand-keyed animation.
- Experience working with Perforce and managing assets in large-scale, multi-team environments.
- Experience leveraging Google Sheets/Excel to organize asset inventories, monitor production status, and facilitate coordination and visibility across departments.
- Experience creating cinematic sequences, character performances, and story-driven animation that enhances narrative and emotional impact.
Benefits & Perks
- Bonus and/or equity awards
- Eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage
- 14 paid holidays per calendar year
- Paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program
- Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year
- Paid parental and compassionate leave
- Wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support
- Family planning support through Maven
- Commuter benefits
- Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.
Apply for this position
You'll be redirected to the company's application page to complete your application.
Related Jobs
Similar positions you might be interested in
Explore Categories
Browse jobs by department and skill area