Lead Animator

**//DESCRIPTION**

We are searching for a Lead Animator to join and integrate themselves into our team, working on our Multiplayer All Out Warfare Shooter ‘WARDOGS’.

As a Lead Animator at BULKHEAD, you will be leading a team of animators to bring personality to the world that we're building, creating satisfying and reactive animations.

You will be responsible for working with the team to conceive, prototype and implement exciting features and sequences through keyframe animation and/or motion capture. Leading your team to create high and consistent quality across the game.

To be a part of this talented team you need to be passionate about first person shooter games and ideally understand the nuance in connecting gameplay animations to the player feel, creating engaging and reactive combat experiences.

This is an in-studio role, and this is non-negotiable however; we can offer bespoke relocation packages.

Currently, we are unable to offer any visa sponsorship.

If you have the skills and passion we are looking for and want to be part of something special, we want to hear from you

**//RESPONSIBLITES**
- Create reactive, satisfying and replayable animations for our games that both look and feel incredible.
- Leading, driving and defining our animation quality standards and pipeline.
- Holding regular reviews with the animation team, mentoring junior/mid team members to ensure that their animations reach the quality bar of WARDOGS.
- Work closely with relevant Directors to ensure that we achieve responsible, reactive gameplay that feels rewarding to our players.
- Help to facilitate mocap shoots and contribute to the entire process, from initial organisation through to distributing the data.
- Consistently access our processes and pipelines with a view to improving efficiency across the animation team.
- Be proactive in assessing and evolving the experience of WARDOGS.
- Create and maintain informative documentation about the animation pipeline for new starters & other departments.
- Ensure cohesion across the department by engaging with the team in their currently regular leisurely activities, e.g., video game night, hiking etc.

**// REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE**
- Demo Reel displaying character / first person animations for shooter games
- 4+ years of industry experience as a Lead or Senior Animator
- Excellent Gameplay Animation skills
- Maya expertise
- A relevant degree in Animation or equivalent professional full-cycle project experience.
- Unreal Engine 4/5 experience desirable
- Small team management and development, proficient mentor able to train junior staff
- Developed communication skills, able to work with a range of stakeholders

**// DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE**
- Unreal Engine 4/5 experience in a professional environment
- Experience on multiple deployed titles
- Knowledge of weapon mechanics
- A passion for FPS games