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Unreal Engine Gameplay Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kavaliro

Character Artist (Unreal Engine)

Jacksonville, FL

$112K - $117K/yr

... Unreal Engine 5. In this role, you ll help bring characters to life by creating high-quality ... Work with rigging and animation teams to ensure clothing deforms properly during gameplay and ...

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

Lead the creation and implementation of high-quality, gameplay-driven animation in Unreal Engine * Prototype and iterate on new approaches to character movement, responsiveness, and player-driven ...

2K

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

Familiar with Unreal Engine, including animation systems, asset integration, and runtime considerations. * Familiarity with Unreal Sequencer, camera language, and in-game cinematic workflows.

New

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Prototype gameplay by blocking animation quickly; when ideas are proven, polish animations to a ... Motionbuilder and Unreal Engine experience * First-person animations experience * strong design eye

2K

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Familiar with Unreal Engine, including animation systems, asset integration, and runtime considerations. * Familiarity with Unreal Sequencer, camera language, and in-game cinematic workflows.

31st Union

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

Familiar with Unreal Engine, including animation systems, asset integration, and runtime considerations. * Familiarity with Unreal Sequencer, camera language, and in-game cinematic workflows.

New

Epic Games

Technical Designer in Animation

Cary, NC · On-site

Strong familiarity with gameplay animation tools and concepts, such as blend trees, state machines, and Unreal Engine Animation Blueprints * Experience with AAA game development, preferably on a ...

31st Union

Expert Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Familiar with Unreal Engine, including animation systems, asset integration, and runtime considerations. * Familiarity with Unreal Sequencer, camera language, and in-game cinematic workflows.

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA

$129K - $148K/yr

Prototype gameplay by blocking animation quickly; when ideas are proven, polish animations to a ... Motionbuilder and Unreal Engine experience * First-person animations experience * strong design eye

Eliassen Group

Unreal Engine Developer

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

$65 - $75/hr

Design and develop Unreal Engine plugins and in-engine panels in C++ to support animation and live ... Understanding of animation pipelines, sequencing concepts, and how artists work within Unreal.

New

Eliassen Group

Unreal Engine Developer

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

$65 - $75/hr

Design and develop Unreal Engine plugins and in‑engine panels in C++ to support animation and live action production workflows. * Build tools that integrate with existing pipelines and are ...

New

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Unreal Engine Gameplay Animator information

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How much do unreal engine gameplay animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for unreal engine gameplay animator in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Unreal Engine Gameplay Animator, you need a strong background in 3D animation principles, character rigging, and a portfolio showcasing animation for interactive environments, often supported by a degree in animation or related fields. Proficiency with Unreal Engine, Maya or Blender, and understanding of animation blueprints and real-time workflows are typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving are standout soft skills for working effectively with designers and programmers. These abilities are crucial for creating engaging, believable character animation that enhances gameplay and player experience.

What is the difference between Unreal Engine Gameplay Animator vs Character Animator?

AspectUnreal Engine Gameplay AnimatorCharacter Animator
Primary FocusAnimating gameplay elements, interactions, and in-game characters within Unreal EngineCreating character movements and performances for film, TV, or animation projects
Tools & SkillsUnreal Engine, Blueprint scripting, game physicsMaya, Adobe After Effects, motion capture
Work EnvironmentGame development studios, interactive media projectsAnimation studios, film production
Industry UsageVideo game industry, interactive experiencesEntertainment, film, television

While both roles involve character animation, Unreal Engine Gameplay Animators specialize in animating interactive gameplay elements within Unreal Engine, focusing on real-time responses and game mechanics. Character Animators typically work on pre-rendered or cinematic character performances for film or animation projects. The key difference lies in the environment and tools used, with Unreal Engine Gameplay Animators working primarily within game engines for interactive content.

What is an Unreal Engine Gameplay Animator?

An Unreal Engine Gameplay Animator is a professional who creates and implements character animations within the Unreal Engine, primarily for video games. They work closely with game designers and programmers to ensure animations are responsive and enhance gameplay experiences. Their responsibilities often include rigging characters, creating animation blueprints, and integrating animations using Unreal Engine's tools. These animators must have a strong understanding of both animation principles and the technical aspects of game engines. They play a crucial role in bringing characters and worlds to life in interactive environments.

What are some typical challenges Unreal Engine Gameplay Animators face when integrating animations with gameplay mechanics?

Unreal Engine Gameplay Animators often encounter challenges ensuring that animations blend seamlessly with real-time gameplay mechanics, such as syncing character movement with player inputs and maintaining responsiveness. Balancing visually appealing animations with the technical constraints of the game engine and optimizing performance for different platforms are also common hurdles. Collaboration with programmers and designers is essential to troubleshoot issues and refine animation systems, making communication and adaptability key skills for success in this role.
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Unreal Engine Gameplay Animator jobs near you
Character Artist (Unreal Engine)

Character Artist (Unreal Engine)

Kavaliro

Jacksonville, FL

$112K - $117K/yr

Other

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Kavaliro is seeking a talented Mid-Level Character Artist for our game studio client with a strong focus on clothing creation and character customization to join their development team working in Unreal Engine 5. In this role, you ll help bring characters to life by creating high-quality apparel, gear, and character assets that support a visually rich and immersive game world. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of character pipelines, cloth workflows, and real-time optimization, along with a passion for creating believable and stylish wearable assets for modern games.
Responsibilities
  • Create high-quality character assets with a strong emphasis on clothing, armor, wearable gear, and layered apparel systems
  • Sculpt, model, retopologize, UV, texture, and implement character clothing assets for real-time gameplay in Unreal Engine 5
  • Collaborate closely with character art, concept art, animation, and technical art teams to ensure visual consistency and functionality
  • Develop clothing assets that support character customization, modular systems, and multiple body types
  • Author realistic and stylized materials, fabric details, surface wear, and texture variation
  • Work with rigging and animation teams to ensure clothing deforms properly during gameplay and cinematics
  • Assist with cloth simulation setup, optimization, and troubleshooting for in-game performance
  • Maintain clean asset organization and follow established art pipelines, naming conventions, and technical standards
  • Optimize character and clothing assets for performance while maintaining high visual fidelity
  • Participate in reviews, feedback sessions, and iterative development processes
Qualifications
  • 3+ years of professional experience as a Character Artist in the game industry
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating character art and clothing creation for real-time games
  • Experience creating clothing assets for modern game engines, preferably Unreal Engine 5
  • Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as ZBrush, Marvelous Designer, Maya, Blender, and Substance 3D Painter
  • Strong understanding of anatomy, garment construction, fabric behavior, and silhouette design
  • Experience with topology optimization and real-time asset constraints
  • Familiarity with PBR workflows, material creation, and texture authoring
  • Understanding of rigging considerations, skinning, and cloth simulation workflows
  • Ability to receive and implement artistic and technical feedback effectively
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills
Nice to Have
  • Experience building modular character systems or cosmetic customization pipelines
  • Familiarity with Chaos Cloth or other cloth simulation systems in Unreal Engine 5
  • Experience working on open-world, RPG, survival, or multiplayer titles
  • Knowledge of hair workflows, accessories, or hard-surface character props
  • Experience with scan data, photogrammetry, or realistic character pipelines
  • Familiarity with technical art workflows, shader setup, or material optimization
Kavaliro provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Kavaliro is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Kavaliro will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please respond to this posting to connect with a company representative.

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