Senior Cinematic Animator

CD PROJEKT RED

$95K — $174K *
Media
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Passion for creating engaging games and animation.
  • Experience in at least two AAA game titles.
  • Strong animation reel showcasing senior-level skills and contributions.
  • Excellent creativity and commitment to the project.
  • Solid foundation in animation principles with an emphasis on dynamic poses.
  • Instinctive understanding of realistic character movement and facial emotion conveyance.
  • Knowledge of camera movement, composition, and character performance.
  • Proficiency in Unreal Engine and Maya or Motion Builder.
  • Experience with motion capture and performance capture direction.
  • Self-management skills and decision-making capabilities regarding project priorities.
  • Aptitude for proactive teamwork in multidisciplinary settings.
  • Willingness to give and receive constructive feedback.
  • Mentoring capability for junior team members.

Responsibilities

  • Ensure animations enhance the game's feel and player experience.
  • Collaborate closely with Animation Lead and Cinematic Director daily.
  • Drive integration of animation with other disciplines for optimal player experience.
  • Estimate task completion times and meet deadlines.
  • Deliver animations consistent with the project's artistic vision.
  • Prototype and draft animations to validate new concepts.
  • Develop narrative concepts and previzes for an engaging storytelling experience.
  • Identify solutions for animation-related challenges.
  • Produce high-quality narrative assets from scratch or motion capture data.
  • Share expertise and support team members in their tasks.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive company-paid medical benefits including dental and vision.
  • Access to free mental health support and well-being resources.
  • Generous paid leave policy: 26 vacation days, 10 sick days, and 12 holidays.
  • 401K plan with employer matching contributions.
  • Lifestyle Spending Account providing $100 monthly for wellness-related expenses.
  • Menstrual leave policy for employees experiencing period pain.
  • Support network for working parents, including childcare benefits and family-focused events.
  • Flexible working hours to accommodate personal schedules.
  • Opportunities for ongoing professional development through training and courses.
  • Welcoming pack to ease your transition into the team.
  • Dog-friendly office allowing pets at work and promoting a casual environment.
  • Diverse, international work culture fostering rich collaboration.
Full Job Description
Job Description

We're looking for a Senior Cinematic Animator to join our team working out of our Boston office. This role is part of our team working on Cyberpunk 2 - the follow-up to Cyberpunk 2077 and the next major video game in the Cyberpunk franchise.

Contribute to a dynamic team by bringing characters to life in the narrative moments of the game. Collaborate closely with designers and other multidisciplinary team members to create immersive game content - from initial concepting, quest requirements, through mocap shoots, to finished animations. As a Senior Cinematic Animator, you'll be an integral part of the storytelling process, using your expertise to ensure that final scenes are not only visually stunning but also deeply engaging for players. As the project evolves, so will your responsibilities, offering you the chance to continually grow and adapt. If you are passionate about storytelling and animation, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact in the next Cyberpunk game.

This role is based in our Boston office and follows a hybrid working model.

Daily Responsibilities
  • Being a game developer first, ensuring that your animations look and feel great while playing the game.
  • Collaborating daily with the Animation Lead and Cinematic Director.
  • Taking responsibility for the animation-related aspects of the game, including driving collaboration across disciplines to create the best possible player experience.
  • Estimating the time required to carry out own tasks and meeting deadlines.
  • Delivering work in accordance with the artistic direction of the project.
  • Prototyping and drafting animations to explore and validate new ideas.
  • Working on concepts and previzes for the narrative parts of the game to ensure a cohesive and engaging story experience.
  • Providing knowledge and solutions for everyday problems.
  • Creating final, high-quality narrative animation assets from scratch or motion capture data.
  • Sharing your experience and helping team members.


Qualifications
  • Passion for creating great games and a love for animation.
  • Experience working on at least two AAA titles.
  • An animation reel demonstrating senior-level skills with a clear explanation of contributions.
  • Outstanding creativity and a strong commitment to the project.
  • Solid knowledge of animation principles and an eye for dynamic poses.
  • Good instincts for realistic character movement and facial conveying emotions.
  • Understanding of camera movement, composition, and character performance to create visually compelling scenes.
  • Professional knowledge of Unreal Engine and Maya or Motion Builder.
  • Experience directing and working with motion capture and/or performance capture.
  • Capability to self-manage and make responsible decisions about time and project priorities.
  • Ability to work proactively in multidisciplinary teams.
  • Eagerness to receive, seek, and provide constructive feedback.
  • Ability to mentor less experienced peers.
  • Experience creating layouts or previzes is a plus.
  • Experience in developing animation pipelines and tools is a plus.


Additional Information

This job requires working in Boston, US.
Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity.


Health & Well-Being
  • Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
  • Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
  • Paid leave - 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, & 12 calendar holidays per year.
  • 401K with employer matching.
  • Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) - $100 per month to use towards fitness, wellness, internet, home office equipment, learning, streaming services, and more.
  • Menstrual leave - employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
  • RED Parents Network - support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.

Perks & Professional Growth
  • Flexible working hours.
  • Trainings, lectures, and courses - internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
  • A welcome pack filled with goodies - to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office
  • Dog-friendly office - bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There's always a furry friend or two to meet.
  • Truly international working environment - a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
  • No dress-code - we like to keep it casual.

Estimated pay range for this position: $95,000 - $174,200 USD annually

At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on job-related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.

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Videos To Watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHBpEDCZMvo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFeLPMAtkEw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-PS6_5hi4M

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