Naughty Dog
Senior Technical Gameplay Animator
Naughty Dog, Santa Monica, California, United States, 90403
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 is now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on a brand-new single player game that we're excited about, 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.
What you'll do:
Facilitate the creation and implementation of tools and techniques that allow the building of complex and high-quality animation systemsInnovate and streamline animation pipeline processes and workflowsCollaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challengesCreate high quality animation content supporting the newly developed behaviors and systems and implement it in engineWork with the animation leadership on defining and maintaining the style and quality bar of the in-game animationTake ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentationContribute to the strategic development of internal technologies and artistic processesWho skills you will use:
5+ years of industry experience in technical animation for gamesProficiency in Python, C#, C++ or other programming languages is requiredFull 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 MotionbuilderProven track record of creating visually stunning animations for diverse game genresProactively contributes to the progress of the team and the projectStrong eye for animation and in-depth knowledge of how to achieve realistic motion using modern in-game animation techniquesExcellent communication and collaboration skillsStrong problem-solving skills with a focus on achieving high-quality gameplay animationStrong leadership and mentoring skillsBonus Skills:
Experience developing animation toolsCharacter rigging experienceExperience setting up in-game physics assets
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.
Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and gender reassignment), race (including color, nationality, ethnic, national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
#LI-AB1
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.
Base pay is one component of our total compensation package. 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, as well as additional compensation components, such as annual bonus, profit sharing, and other incentive plans.
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.
The estimated USA base pay range (all regions) for this role is listed below.
$126,400-$227,500 USD
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.
What you'll do:
Facilitate the creation and implementation of tools and techniques that allow the building of complex and high-quality animation systemsInnovate and streamline animation pipeline processes and workflowsCollaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challengesCreate high quality animation content supporting the newly developed behaviors and systems and implement it in engineWork with the animation leadership on defining and maintaining the style and quality bar of the in-game animationTake ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentationContribute to the strategic development of internal technologies and artistic processesWho skills you will use:
5+ years of industry experience in technical animation for gamesProficiency in Python, C#, C++ or other programming languages is requiredFull 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 MotionbuilderProven track record of creating visually stunning animations for diverse game genresProactively contributes to the progress of the team and the projectStrong eye for animation and in-depth knowledge of how to achieve realistic motion using modern in-game animation techniquesExcellent communication and collaboration skillsStrong problem-solving skills with a focus on achieving high-quality gameplay animationStrong leadership and mentoring skillsBonus Skills:
Experience developing animation toolsCharacter rigging experienceExperience setting up in-game physics assets
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.
Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and gender reassignment), race (including color, nationality, ethnic, national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
#LI-AB1
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.
Base pay is one component of our total compensation package. 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, as well as additional compensation components, such as annual bonus, profit sharing, and other incentive plans.
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.
The estimated USA base pay range (all regions) for this role is listed below.
$126,400-$227,500 USD