Senior Technical Gameplay Animator
Summary
A senior gameplay animator at Naughty Dog who bridges art and technical teams by designing, implementing, and troubleshooting runtime animation systems and character behaviors in-engine, while creating high-quality animation content. Core tech includes Maya/MotionBuilder mocap and keyframe pipelines, state machines, blend trees, IK solvers, and programming in Python/C#/C++.
This is a hybrid / onsite position.
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
Please note: This is not a rigging position. We are looking for an animator that is capable of being the bridge between art and technical teams by designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex runtime animation systems and character behaviors.
What you will do:
- Create high quality animation content supporting the newly developed behaviors and systems and implement it in engine
- Work with the animation leadership on defining and maintaining the style and quality bar of the in-game animation
- Collaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges
- Take ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentation
- Contribute to the strategic development of internal technologies and artistic processes
- Facilitate the creation and implementation of tools and techniques that allow the building of complex and high-quality animation systems
- Innovate and streamline animation pipeline processes and workflows
What skills you will use:
- 5+ years of industry experience in gameplay animation for games
- Proven track record of creating visually stunning animations for diverse game genres
- Full understanding of in-game animation tools like state machines, blend trees, IK solvers, etc.
- Expertise with mocap and keyframe based digital content creation pipelines built on Maya or Motionbuilder
- Proficiency in Python, C#, C++ or other programming languages is required
- Proactively contributes to the progress of the team and the project
As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an animation test.
#LI-SP3
The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.
At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE’s top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.
Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.
Skills
As published by greenhouse · 11 questions
Basics
First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Location
Short answers (4)
- Preferred First Name optional
- Portfolio Website - Please ensure you enter a valid link.
- LinkedIn Profile URL
- If yes, please state their name, the department or studio they work for, and their job title (if you know it). optional
Pick from a list (7)
- This is not a rigging position. Does your demo reel showcase your animation experience?
- Have you ever worked for a Sony company previously?
- Are you authorized to work in the United States?
- Will you now, or in the future, require sponsorship to work in the United States?
- Will you need relocation assistance to work at this role's specified location?
- Are you related to, or in a close personal relationship with, anyone who currently works for SIE or any SIE-affiliated studios? (This includes spouses, domestic partners, and significant others.)
- By selecting "Yes", I am certifying that, to the best of my knowledge, the information I have provided in this employment application is true and correct.