Senior Technical Animator, Outsource – Overwatch | Irvine, CA Job at BLIZZARD EN

Overview

Team Name: Overwatch

Job Title: Senior Technical Animator, Outsource – Overwatch | Irvine, CA

Requisition ID: R025521

Job Description:

The world could always use more heroes. Blizzard is seeking a highly motivated and talented Senior Technical Animator, Outsource, to join the Overwatch Development team. This role involves hands-on animation work, integrating content from our Ex-Dev partners, and collaborating with gameplay engineers to prototype new animation cosmetics for Overwatch.

As a Senior Technical Animator, you will collaborate with the Animation, Technical Art, and Gameplay Engineering teams to bring Overwatch characters to life. Your role will involve integrating animation assets into the game, troubleshooting issues in the engine and Maya, managing final asset quality, and supporting the development of exciting new cosmetic types. This position is ideal for someone with a technical animation background who enjoys working with multi-disciplinary teams to create unique and dynamic character cosmetics for our roster of heroes.

This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some on-site and some work from home. Potential home studio is Irvine, CA, with flexibility to explore other options, including remote work arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Implementation of approved assets into the game engine, with polish and fixes to keep assets game-ready.
• Technical ownership of future prototyping efforts to evolve animation cosmetics shipped in Overwatch.
• Work with the animation lead, senior animation supervisors, production team, and outsource manager to determine outsourcing needs, pipelines, and identify areas of improvement on technical implementation workflows.
• Lead quality control over incoming animation assets, providing detailed feedback and technical support for ExDev content implementation in engine.
• Generate detailed documentation, visual references, and examples of animation asset production, procedures, and engine requirements to support external vendors.
• Mentorship support for outsource supervisors to broaden their technical aptitude in the game engine.

Minimum Requirements

• 8+ years of AAA game experience as an Animator or technical animator, may include a relevant educational degree.
• 2+ years experience as an Animator within game development or film entertainment, may include a relevant educational degree.

Knowledge & Skills

• Extensive experience in one or more game engines (Unreal, Unity, proprietary) with focus on content implementation.
• Experience with state scripting/animation blueprints to augment animation functionality and engine performance.
• Proficiency in Maya game animation asset creation with understanding of character animation and rigging principles.
• Strong problem-solving skills in content creation tools and in-game systems.
• Highly organized, self-driven, and a team player.

Extra Points

• Experience with animation retargeting pipelines
• 1st Person animation experience
• Scripting experience (Python, C++, Lua, etc.)

Required Application Materials

• Resume
• Portfolio, and/or reel demonstrating relevant artistic skills (including 3D Animation skills)