At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning character and creature animations that enhance gameplay using Maya.
- Company: Join Frontier Developments, a leading independent video game studio in Cambridge.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible hours, wellbeing initiatives, and relocation support.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and mentoring junior animators.
- Why this job: Be part of a creative team crafting immersive gaming experiences that captivate players worldwide.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-quality animation and proficiency in Maya required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Frontier is an independent video game developer and publisher, crafting immersive gaming experiences with fun gameplay and unparalleled artistic quality. Renowned for its iconic creative management simulation games, Frontier captivates players worldwide with immersive and authentic game worlds. The modern studio is located in the vibrant technology hub of Cambridge (UK). The talented team at Frontier are dedicated to nurturing our existing portfolio and delivering our exciting future roadmap.
This role is offered on a full in‑studio basis or a hybrid basis (minimum 3 days per week in the studio). We can provide a comprehensive relocation support package as part of any offer, should you need to relocate.
What’s The Role
Are you passionate about crafting compelling character and creature animation that elevates gameplay? At Frontier, animation is at the heart of our storytelling. We’re looking for an experienced Animator to join our talented team and help bring our worlds to life.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Create high‑quality, expressive character and creature animations using Maya.
- Implement animations into our proprietary Cobra engine.
- Collaborate across disciplines including Character Art, Code, Design, and VFX.
- Take direction from the Lead Animator and Game Director to realise the creative vision.
- Contribute to a culture of feedback and continuous improvement.
- Solve production challenges with creativity and technical know‑how.
- Maintain accurate task tracking and validate assets to minimise bugs.
- Provide feedback to external development partners when needed.
- Support junior team members and contribute to team knowledge sharing.
What You’ll Bring
- Proven experience producing high‑quality animation assets.
- Strong proficiency in Maya’s character animation tools.
- Excellent understanding of body mechanics, posing, timing, and acting choices.
- Experience with creature animation and believable movement.
- Familiarity with animation state machines.
- Understanding of versioning software (SVN, Perforce).
- Strong time management and communication skills.
- Basic knowledge of rigging pipelines.
Bonus If You Have
- Experience with external animation behaviour tree software (e.g. Havok, Unity, Unreal)
- Scripting knowledge (Python, MEL)
- Experience mentoring or training junior animators
What We Can Offer You
You will work with talented and passionate people to support, develop or publish our sophisticated and enduring games, in a creative, collaborative and inclusive environment. We love what we do, and we work hard to provide outstanding experiences for our players.
Wellbeing is a big focus at Frontier, and we are continually evolving how we can support our people. We encourage a healthy work/life balance and provide a range of wellbeing activities, initiatives and sessions to support both mental and physical health.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a success‑based annual bonus, share option schemes, life assurance, private family healthcare, flexitime working hours, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, in‑house subsidised catering, support with relocation, a Cycle to Work scheme, free bike servicing, and social activities and events.
We strive to create an environment where everyone can fully demonstrate their capability and potential. If you therefore need any reasonable adjustments to support you during the recruitment process, please speak to your Talent Acquisition representative.
For queries, please email: [email protected]
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Animator in Cambridge employer: Frontier Developments
Frontier Developments is an exceptional employer that values innovation and creativity, providing a dynamic work environment in the heart of Cambridge. With a strong emphasis on work/life balance, employees enjoy comprehensive benefits and ample opportunities for professional growth, including mentorship roles for those looking to advance their careers. The collaborative culture fosters teamwork and encourages a user-focused approach to tool design, making it a rewarding place for passionate programmers to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Animator in Cambridge
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a graphic designer, your portfolio is your secret weapon! Make sure it's not just a collection of your work but showcases your creative process too. Use platforms like Behance or Dribbble to share your designs and gain visibility within the design community.
✨Get Involved in Design Meetups
Networking is key in the design world! Check out local design meetups or workshops where you can connect with other creatives and potential employers. This is a goldmine for finding unadvertised job openings at companies like Frontier Developments.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Frontier Developments, don’t go for a one-size-fits-all approach. Ensure your application highlights specific projects or styles that align with their brand image, showing that you’re a perfect fit for their team.
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in landing your dream design job! Share your work on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest, and engage with accounts from your desired companies—this could put you on their radar before they start hiring.
We think you need these skills to ace Animator in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work Frontier Developments does, so they can see you in action.
Tailor Your CV for Design:When crafting your CV, highlight your design skills and software proficiencies, like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. Mention any relevant experience you have with branding, UI/UX design, or typography, as we want to see how you fit in with the creative team at Frontier Developments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Frontier Developments. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!
Highlight Collaboration Skills:As a graphic designer, you often work with various teams and stakeholders. In your application, mention experiences where you've collaborated with others to bring a project to life, whether it's with clients, writers, or developers. This shows you can thrive in a team environment, which is key at Frontier Developments.
How to prepare for a job interview at Frontier Developments
✨Get Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.
✨Know Your Design Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.
✨Passion Counts
For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to Frontier Developments. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
