Zynga - Principal Technical Animator

Animator is needed in London, United Kingdom.

Client: Zynga

Location: London, United Kingdom

Contract: Full-time, Full-time

Job Description

Zynga is a global leader in interactive entertainment, striving to connect the world through games. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), Zynga boasts a diverse portfolio of popular game franchises downloaded over 6 billion times on mobile, including Star Wars: Hunters, Dragon City, FarmVille, and Words With Friends. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in California, Zynga operates across North America, Europe, and Asia. We are currently looking for a Senior/Principal Technical Animator to join our Animation Team, particularly to support Star Wars: Hunters and an upcoming unannounced project. This position has a hybrid work model, requiring 2 days per week in our London or Brighton office and the remaining days working from home.

Requirements

What You’ll Do:

• Create and maintain the rigging and technical animation pipeline for projects.
• Collaborate with the Animation Team to develop original characters and seasonal cosmetics.
• Report to the Lead Animator and Art Directors.

What You Bring:

• Expert knowledge of the skeletal pipeline from rigging to exporting characters into games, with an understanding of mobile limitations (both bipedal and non-bipedal).
• Familiarity with cloth sim and dynamics in both Engine and 3D software, including its application and limitations.
• Expertise with animation systems in Unreal Engine, including debugging and creating them from scratch.
• Knowledge of motion capture processes, cleanup, and application to characters.
• Proficient in retargeting, both in and out of engine, including between non-matching skeletons.
• Proficiency in relevant 3D software scripting languages (MEL, Python, Max Script, etc.).
• Foundational knowledge of rigging, using bones, IK, splines, blend shapes, skinning, and setting up animation blueprints in Unreal.
• Advanced knowledge of major third-party rigging systems (e.g., Advanced Skeleton, Rapid Rig, mGear).
• Experience in scalable animation systems that function on a variety of mobile devices.
• Ability to take complete ownership of the pipeline with thorough documentation and communication.

Bonus Points:

• Demonstrated knowledge of facial rigging processes and game engine compatible solutions.
• Understanding of procedural animation systems.
• Experience in other technical art areas (e.g., shaders, lighting tech, VFX).
• Knowledge of mechanical systems and vehicle rigging.

What We Offer You

• Competitive salary and discretionary annual bonus scheme.
• 26 days holiday, plus bank holidays & 2 paid personal days.
• Fully paid maternity/adoption leave (6 months) and paternity leave (16 weeks) with eligibility criteria.
• Pension plan with double matching employer contribution.
• Private medical & dental insurance and healthcare cash plan.
• Life insurance, personal accident insurance, and income protection.
• Mental health and neurodiversity support programs.
• Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan (eligibility criteria apply).
• Fitness reimbursement plan worth £600 per annum.
• Flexible working hours.
• Weekly happy hours, seasonal parties, and monthly social events.
• Annual rail season ticket advance and cycle to work scheme.

Additional Information

Zynga is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering a diverse workplace where people are judged based on their abilities, qualifications, and work ethic. We also provide necessary accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application process. Please note that Zynga does not conduct job interviews or make job offers through third-party messaging apps and does not require personal or financial information during recruitment.