Contract Senior Gameplay Animator (Unannounced Project)

At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 21 million players worldwide. ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine. We are looking for a Contract Senior Animator with the ability to breathe life and expressiveness into our Characters while still delivering on a tight and responsive gameplay experience. You will play a critical role in helping to define the look and feel of the game by building a range of character combat and movement animations that work to establish visual and technical targets. WHAT YOU'LL DO Create AAA animations for gameplay and locomotion, with a focus on combat for a variety of characters and creatures. Collaborate with Design to achieve clear and expressive action gameplay animations that feel responsive to player input. Contribute to the development of content and gameplay pipelines and systems. Work closely with the Animation Lead, Art Director, Design, and other disciplines to execute an eye-catching animation style that delivers a fantastic combat experience. Work closely with Tech Art to iterate on character rigs and refine animation workflows. Use both keyframe and motion capture to craft compelling animated performances. Actively share knowledge, process, and constructive feedback. Participate in teamwide playtests and contribute your ideas and feedback to group discussions. WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL 5+ years of professional game industry experience as a Gameplay Animator Ability to keyframe strong gameplay animation and execute at a very high level, as shown by examples of professional work Deep understanding of kinetics, action gameplay animation, and animation systems Experience implementing animation content into existing runtime systems Expert knowledge of Maya character animation workflows Strong understanding of UE5 animation systems and workflows Outstanding ability to problem-solve and explore creative solutions in an ambiguous space Experience enhancing and implementing motion capture data Strong understanding and experience with motion capture data and animation process Passion for working collaboratively and the ability to communicate feedback in a positive and healthy way Outstanding verbal and written communication skills Strong organizational and time management skills Unwavering commitment to creating a positive and inclusive work environment NICE TO HAVE Technical Skills: Scripting Technical Skills: Rigging Unreal: Experience with Animation Blueprints, Montages and Sequencer This is a 12-month contract position. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 13th at 10am PT. If the deadline is extended, the posting will be updated accordingly. If the position is filled before this date, the posting will be removed. This contract position is paid hourly, with additional overtime compensation when applicable. While we’re providing the full range for transparency, our target hiring rate generally falls between the minimum and midpoint of that range. This role is eligible for benefits through our third-party employing agency, which may include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, and flexible and dependent care spending accounts. Hourly Pay Range $49.04—$73.56 USD Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.