Principal Technical Animator

Established in 2002, CI Games has carved its niche in the global gaming scene as an independent video game developer and publisher. Over two decades, the company has built a reputation for acclaimed titles like the Lords of the Fallen and Sniper Ghost Warrior franchises. Its third-party publishing arm, United Label, champions ambitious, meticulously crafted games such as Röki, Eldest Souls, and the Tales of Iron franchise. Embracing the future of work, CI Games has operated with fully remote teams since 2020, with most employees based throughout Europe. Join CI Games and be part of shaping the future of gaming.

As we embark on an ambitious strategic roadmap with major releases planned, we are seeking a talented and dedicated Principal Technical Animator to help us create ground-breaking experiences that captivate players worldwide. A career at CI Games is about being part of a team working on some of the most creatively rewarding and ambitious projects to be found in any entertainment medium. You would be welcomed to a dedicated and inclusive environment where you can learn and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry.

• Technical Leadership & Pipeline Architecture: Act as the studio's primary expert on Unreal animation technology, defining the technical vision for character pipelines, tools, and runtime systems. Design, implement, and maintain complex animation systems within Unreal Engine, with a heavy focus on Animation Blueprints and Control Rig. Research, prototype, and champion new techniques and technologies to enhance animation quality and workflow efficiency.
• Tooling, Rigging & Implementation: Develop and support essential tools for the animation team using Python, Unreal Blueprints, and C++. Oversee and contribute to the creation of high-quality character, weapon, and vehicle rigs that meet the demands of our artistic and gameplay vision. Collaborate with engineers to solve complex technical challenges and ensure the performance and stability of all animation systems.
• Mentorship & Cross-Team Collaboration: Lead and mentor the Unreal technical animation team, fostering their skills and providing clear technical guidance and feedback. Serve as the key bridge between the animation, character art, and engineering teams, translating artistic needs into robust technical solutions. Establish and document best practices for the technical animation pipeline to ensure consistency and quality across all projects.

Let's be honest! On occasions, this role may be challenging. This is a highly technical role where you'll be expected to solve the most complex animation problems. You will need to balance the creative ambitions of the animation team with the technical constraints of the engine, which requires excellent problem-solving and communication skills. As a principal, you are not just a doer but a mentor. A significant part of your success will be measured by your ability to elevate the skills of the entire technical animation team. Your role will be fully remote which may be sometimes challenging.

• 7+ years of experience in technical animation, with a proven track record in a senior or lead role.
• Shipped multiple AA+ titles in a technical animation capacity.
• Master-level expertise with Unreal Engine, specifically with Animation Blueprints, State Machines, and Control Rig.
• Strong proficiency with Unreal Blueprints and a solid understanding of how they integrate with animation systems.
• Solid knowledge of dynamic asset types, in particular Physics and Cloth Assets.
• Extensive experience in developing and maintaining animation pipelines and tools.
• Exceptional skills in character rigging and skinning for realistic characters.
• A proven ability to mentor and lead other technical animators, providing clear and constructive guidance.
• Outstanding communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with artists and engineers.

• Proficiency in Python and/or C++.
• Experience with procedural animation techniques.
• A deep passion for and expertise in the Action-RPG or Soulslike genre.

• Attractive remuneration and annual discretionary bonus.
• Generous benefits supporting your wellbeing.
• Opportunities for professional development within a supportive and collaborative team.
• Remote work with flexible schedules (core working hours 10am-4pm CET), allowing you to work alongside talented individuals from around the world.
• An opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and stay at the forefront of the gaming industry.
• A diverse and inclusive workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or social status.
• Company events and wrap-up parties, access to all games released by CI Games and company merchandise.
• A chance to be part of something ground-breaking as we shape the future of gaming.

Once our Talent Acquisition team receives your application, together with the hiring team, we will review your CV, portfolio and the answers you provided in the application form and if all the boxes are ticked, we are moving to the next stage. Initial call with Talent Acquisition Specialist - During this call you'll learn about the company and we learn about you. We'll talk about your experience & expectations with working in a fully remote environment and we'll talk about your expertise. We'll finish this call with some admin questions. There will be an opportunity for you to ask any questions as well. After the initial call, usually 1 or 2 interviews with the hiring team follows. These interviews will be a bit more technical and will go deeper into your experience, skills & knowledge. As you would have signed an NDA by now, you'll also learn a bit more about the project you would work on. During these interviews we'll also focus on finding out whether you're a good fit for our company culture and that we share the same values. We may or may not ask you to do the test - this is decided on an individual basis and you will receive instructions with the test. If everything goes well, the last step in the recruitment process is the offer presentation call with the Talent Acquisition Specialist and your future line manager to discuss the offer and next steps to get you successfully on board.

We are an equal opportunities employer, hiring and developing our best talent based on merit. Accessibility is at the heart of our games, and we are committed to not discriminating against people based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or social status. Should you require adjustments or flexible arrangements to interview, or take up a role with us, please let us know in your application and we will accommodate to the best of our ability.