Job Description:

Red Sixteen Interactive is an innovative game studio formed by a group of AAA industry veterans and creative executives. We are dedicated to developing a brand-new 3rd Person Action Adventure IP, leveraging our extensive experience and passion for creating engaging and immersive gaming experiences. As a remote-first studio, we are committed to hiring the best talent across the US and Canada, fostering a collaborative and dynamic work environment.

Your New Role:

In this role, you will work closely with your team and the directors to create high-quality animation content for real-time gameplay and cinematics for our new unannounced title. You will help to define the best practices, processes, and pipelines to improve the workflows. You will support your team’s growth, guide them to achieve their highest potential, and help them remain focused on achieving the artistic vision set for the game. You will be the key contact point for your team and will collaborate across different disciplines, including character, art, technical animation, narrative, and programming, to push the vision forward coherently while respecting technical constraints and budgets.

Your Role:

• Serve as the primary stakeholder for all game animations.

• Manage the animation team by providing guidance, feedback, and striving to create a positive workspace environment.

• Communicate regularly with team members to provide coaching, identify training opportunities, and address knowledge gaps to facilitate their professional growth.

• Sketch keyframes and prototype rapidly to quickly validate animations.

• Establish scalable pipelines for our animation team.

• Responsible for animating characters and bringing life to our game.

• Work closely with production to establish proper schedules, ensuring realistic scoping of work and prioritizing tasks to meet project goals efficiently.

• Participate in departmental meetings to share feedback while defining the look and feel of content on screen.

• Assist in R&D efforts for tools improvement and evaluation of new technology.

• Deliver tasks on time and on schedule and review content in the engine.

• Provide animation bug fixing and support.

• Play a key role in staffing the team with artists who thrive within the team and company culture.
  

Qualifications & Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in a 3D animation role in video game development, having worked on at least 2 AAA or AA games.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

• Ability to mentor peers; previous formal or informal leadership experience is a desired asset.

• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

• Strong animation foundations for body mechanics, posing, and timing.

• Strong animation foundation for facial animation and acting.

• Strong eye for cinematic storytelling with camera language.

• Proficient with 3D animation software (Maya).

• Proficient with the motion capture production process and able to support the pipeline.

• Experience or interest in AI motion capture technology and its implementation in game development.

• Strong understanding of Unreal Engine; experience with Unreal 5 is a strongly desired asset.

• Experience with managing outsourced content and proven ability to work with outsourcing and external development teams.

• Strong technical problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.

• Positive attitude and a desire to bring new ideas to the team.

• Strong understanding of the game development process and art/animation pipelines on PC and consoles.

• Passion for making and playing great games, with an awareness of current titles and industry trends.

• Portfolio/Demo Reel/Website demonstrating your animation skills is required.