Gameplay Animator (Senior+)

From dodgeball in the streets to racetracks in your living room, we've always been more interested in asking "what if?" than following a roadmap. Whether we're dreaming up a chaotic game of hide & seek in the dark or putting a legendary space fox back in the pilot's seat, that inventor's mindset runs through everything we do. We make games for people who appreciate craft and a little bit of magic. If you're curious, you'll be in good company. We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with the experience and passion to drive our gameplay mechanics to the next level. You’ll play a key role in defining how our characters move, respond and feel, crafting animation that’s both expressive and tightly integrated with gameplay. You should be equally comfortable working in a small, fast-paced prototyping team as you are creating polished, production-quality animation for larger projects. You will be actively collaborating with artists, engineers and designers to develop amazing gameplay feel. And your passion for bringing characters to life should only be matched by your love of diving into engine to bring all your animations together for an unforgettable gameplay experience. Senior Gameplay Animator Responsibilities Help define and drive the game’s animation style with expressive, solid body mechanics that makes gameplay feel amazing. Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes to polished game performances. Drive in-engine development with excellent engine competency, including animation systems, state machines and other procedural animation techniques. Collaborate with designers and engineers to explore new ideas, solve tricky gameplay challenges, and push what’s possible through animation. Document tools and workflows. Mentor other animators, offering feedback, guidance, and support. Champion animation across the studio — always pushing for clarity, responsiveness, and that breath of life within every press of a button. Project Lead role based on project* What is expected of an Art Lead at Velan Studios? Lead roles are assigned on a per-project basis and not tied directly to the level of an employee’s position. Leads champion best practices that relate to their area of expertise but also represent all aspects of it in interdisciplinary discussions regarding scope, planning, tools, features and team updates. As the project matures, leads may also be part of hiring and mentoring of any additional artists that might be needed within their field to accomplish project goals in a timely manner and to a high level of quality. Leads may also be expected to help assess their performance and aid in their career development. Requirements 7+ years of professional experience animating for games, with a focus on gameplay. A standout demo reel that shows clear body mechanics, timing, and personality. Expert in Maya or equivalent 3D animation software. Hands-on experience working in-engine, with…