Lead Animator

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Job description

Amazon Games, Orange County is seeking a Lead Animator to work closely with our Art Director and Designers to lead our animation team in bringing innovative game play to life.

As Lead Animator you should display a strong knowledge of animation principles and be well versed in character combat and animation pipelines for AAA third person games. You have a proven track record of guiding a team of talented artists to improve their craft. You will have a desire to implement new production methods to deliver high quality visual results that delight our customers. You will have highly developed communication skills and are able to work independently; both giving and receiving direction. Most importantly, you will inspire both the professional and creative growth of the team through individual contribution and leadership.

We are looking for someone who will:

* Work closely with the art director and design leads to drive and evangelize the artistic and gameplay vision for the game
* Take ownership of all animation and set a high quality bar for the animation department
* Collaborate effectively across all disciplines of the team to deliver visually impressive and fun gameplay
* Lead, manage, mentor, coach, and inspire a team of animators

About Us

* Amazon Games applies the principles of Amazonian culture to the world of game design. We have a diverse team of talented, creative people pairing their love of making games with the unique strengths that come with being part of Amazon. Across all of our teams and locations, we are united by a common purpose: to share great gaming experiences with customers around the world. We believe in a future where everyone is a gamer and everyone can create, compete, collaborate and connect through games, and we are looking for the right people to help us build that future. With the power of Twitch and AWS at your fingertips, you will have the chance to innovate in gameplay, creativity, marketing, and technology, while working alongside some of the smartest and most creative minds in the industry.

Inclusive Culture, Work/Life Balance, & Career Growth

* We embrace our differences and are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We offer ten employee-led affinity groups with 190 global chapters, innovative benefits, and annual and ongoing learning experiences (including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon (gender diversity) conferences). Our team also puts a high value on work-life balance and offers flexible working hours. We believe striking the right balance between your personal and professional life is critical to life-long happiness and fulfillment. Additionally, our team is dedicated to supporting you with mentorship and pathways for ongoing development. We have a broad mix of experience levels and tenures, and are building an environment that celebrates knowledge sharing and promotes career choice.
* 6+ years professional 3D games animation experience
* 1+ shipped AAA title in a Lead Animator/Manager role
* A strong demo reel demonstrating expert knowledge of fundamental animation principles
* Expert knowledge working with mocap and key framed animation techniques for games; setting the bar for the animation team
* Exceptional understanding of next generation asset creation pipelines, tools, software and customization systems
* Exceptional grasp of form, shape, structure, and silhouette as they relate to animation and third person gameplay. Strong understanding of a variety of combat techniques
* Advanced proficiency with Maya and any relevant software or equivalent creating animation for games
* Strong ability to establish and build upon animation style guide
* A Strong understanding of ROI ensuring results meet a high quality bar and efficient time for delivery
* A strong understanding of rigging and modeling for games
* Excellent ability to communicate feedback; subtleties and nuances through verbal, written and visual animation notes
* Vision and persistence to improve the pipeline by researching and detailing proposed features for new animation tools
* A strong ability and willingness to take and give direction, collaborate, discover and make breakthroughs as part of a team
* An undeniable interest in games and animation
* Meets/exceeds Amazon's leadership principles requirements for this role.
* Meets/exceeds Amazon's functional/technical depth and complexity for this role.

Amazon is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please visit