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Unreal Engine Animator Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Unreal Engine Animator information

What is an Unreal Engine animator?

An Unreal Engine Animator is a professional who creates and implements animations for characters, objects, and environments within the Unreal Engine, a popular real-time 3D creation tool. They work closely with game designers, artists, and programmers to bring interactive and lifelike movement to video games, simulations, and other digital experiences. Their responsibilities may include rigging models, creating motion cycles, facial animations, and ensuring smooth transitions between actions to enhance the overall user experience.

What are some common challenges Unreal Engine animators face when working on game development teams?

Unreal Engine Animators often encounter challenges such as optimizing animation assets for real-time performance, ensuring seamless integration with other departments like programming and design, and adapting to rapid changes in project requirements. Collaborating closely with technical artists and developers is essential to troubleshoot issues related to rigging, blend spaces, or animation blueprints. Staying updated with Unreal Engine's frequent updates and mastering new tools within the engine also helps animators maintain high-quality results and efficiency.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Unreal Engine animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Unreal Engine Animator, you need strong skills in 3D animation principles, character rigging, and a solid understanding of Unreal Engine, often backed by a degree in animation or related field. Mastery of tools like Unreal Engine’s Sequencer, Autodesk Maya, and motion capture systems is typically required. Creative storytelling, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for excelling in this role. These abilities ensure high-quality, immersive animations that meet project goals and enhance the user experience in interactive environments.

What is the difference between Unreal Engine Animator vs 3D Character Animator?

AspectUnreal Engine Animator3D Character Animator
CredentialsAnimation or game design degree, proficiency in Unreal EngineAnimation degree, expertise in 3D software like Maya or Blender
Work EnvironmentGame studios, virtual production, real-time environmentsFilm, TV, advertising, pre-rendered animations
Industry UsagePrimarily in game development and interactive mediaFilm, TV, commercials, pre-rendered content

Unreal Engine Animators focus on creating real-time animations within the Unreal Engine platform, often for games and interactive experiences. 3D Character Animators work on pre-rendered content for film and TV, using software like Maya or Blender. While both roles require strong animation skills, Unreal Engine Animators specialize in real-time rendering and game engine workflows, whereas 3D Character Animators focus on pre-rendered, cinematic quality animations.

What are popular job titles related to Unreal Engine Animator jobs in Utah?

For Unreal Engine Animator jobs in Utah, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Unreal Engine Animator jobs in Utah look for?

The top searched job categories for Unreal Engine Animator jobs in Utah are:

What cities in Utah are hiring for Unreal Engine Animator jobs?

Cities in Utah with the most Unreal Engine Animator job openings:

Infographic showing various Unreal Engine Animator job openings in Utah as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

VFX Director - Infinity Ward

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

Woodland Hills, UT

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago


Activision Blizzard rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 76 rated media


Job description

Job Title:VFX Director - Infinity WardRequisition ID:R027119Job Description:

Founded in 2002, Infinity Ward is the original studio behind theCall of Dutyfranchise. The titles developed by Infinity Ward have won more than 200 "Game of the Year" awards and 100 "Editor's Choice" awards, among many other industry accolades. Some of our previous titles include:Call of Duty: Ghosts,Call of Duty: Infinite Warfareand most recently,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.Infinity Ward employs more than 250 people in Woodland Hills, Calif., just outside of Los Angeles.

A critically acclaimed studio, Infinity Ward is proud to have one of the hardest-working and versatile development teams in the industry. We love to have as much fun as the games we create, and it shows in our relaxed, yet diligent, workplace environment. We believe that making the best games relies on having the best people, so we like to look after ours. We enjoy having fun with top-notch events that everyone gets involved with.

Infinity Ward is wholly owned by Activision. To learn more about our studio, please visit us athttps://www.infinityward.com/, on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/InfinityWard/, and@InfinityWardon X.

Your Mission

Our team is currently looking for a talented Director, VFX Supervisor.

This role is based in our Woodland Hills office and follows an onsite work schedule of five days per week. Work arrangements may change at the company's discretion to meet business needs.

What You Bring to the Table

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with the project director, production staff, and department leads to help achieve the creative vision of the project while staying within the technical, resource, and budget limitations.
  • Be aware of, and communicate to leadership and game team leadership any blocking issues or potential technical problems before they negatively affect production schedules
  • Be an envoy for any technology transfer requested by the game teams
  • Define the visual effects style and quality bar for in-game cinematics and narrative sequences.
  • Partner with the Cinematics Director, Art Director, and Narrative team to ensure all VFX align with IW's artistic vision and emotional tone.
  • Work within the established art styles of our wide-ranging IPs
  • Lead creative reviews and provide actionable feedback to internal and external artists to maintain consistency.
  • Drive innovation in real-time effects, blending traditional cinematic techniques with the latest engine technology.
  • Oversee the creation and integration of VFX in real-time engines (Unreal Engine, proprietary tools, etc.).
  • Collaborate with engineering and tools teams to develop efficient, scalable VFX pipelines for both pre-rendered and in-engine cinematics.
  • Partner with gameplay design, animation, and level design teams to ensure that cinematic effects integrate seamlessly with real-time gameplay experiences.
  • Partner with production to scope workloads, maintain schedules, and manage milestones.

Minimum Requirements

Experience

  • 12+ years' experience creating real-time and pre-rendered cinematics

Knowledge & Skills

  • An intimate knowledge of Call of Duty, their associated lore, characters, and history
  • An intimate working knowledge of the Pre-Render and In-Game Cinematics core pipeline
  • A basic understanding of IW's proprietary engine
  • Ability to adapt to various art styles
  • Strong communication, negotiation, and leadership skills
  • Strong Knowledge of multiple scripting languages, development practices, and asset deliverable pipeline architecture
  • Expert knowledge of real-time VFX workflows and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine Niagara, Houdini, Maya, EmberGen, or proprietary tech).

Extra Points

  • Familiarity with game engine optimization, scripting (Python, MEL, Blueprint), and VFX pipeline automation.
  • Experience working on AAA game franchises or high-end cinematics.
  • Familiarity with Call of Duty and their visual tone.

Application Materials

  • Demo Reel/Portfolio of work in digital format (website, blog, online album, Dropbox, etc.). Physical media will not be accepted
  • Resume
  • Cover letter (optional)

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We're driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and Guitar Hero. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our "press start" is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

We're not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we're forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.

We're in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater - this could be your opportunity to level up.

Ready to Activate Your Future?

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

  • Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
  • 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
  • Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
  • Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
  • If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $136,880.00 - $253,260.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.

What Activision Blizzard employees say

Pay

Benefits

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Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Activision Blizzard logo

About Activision Blizzard

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Monica, CA, US

Year founded

2008

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