Animator - Central Art

Animator - Central Art About Snail Games USA Snail Games strives to create the new high bar for gameplay experience in online gaming. We have been a global developer and publisher of digital entertainment since 2009 and are committed to pushing the boundaries of the industry. About the Role We are seeking a talented and ambitious Animator to join our Central Art team in Bellevue, WA. This role focuses on creating expressive, high-quality character and creature animations for both fantasy and science-fiction projects. You'll work directly with our Senior Technical Animator to establish and uphold animation standards across multiple teams, produce freehand animations in Unreal Engine 5 and Blender, and review work submitted by overseas partners through written and video feedback. The ideal candidate combines artistic instinct with technical fluency and has the range to animate both grounded, humanoid performances and imaginative alien creatures. Job Type: Full-Time Location: Hybrid - Bellevue, WA (on-site as needed for collaboration or mocap reference; typically 1-2 days/month) Responsibilities • Create polished gameplay and cinematic animations for human, creature, and alien characters in UE5 and Blender. • Help define and document animation standards, style guides, and best practices under the direction of the Senior Technical Animator. • Review partner-submitted animations asynchronously and provide clear, constructive written or visual feedback. • Maintain stylistic consistency across fantasy and sci-fi projects, ensuring believable motion and expression. • Collaborate with art and design teams to ensure animations integrate cleanly into gameplay systems. • Track and manage assigned tasks in Jira, maintaining organized notes and references. Minimum Requirements • Strong portfolio demonstrating mastery of animation fundamentals (weight, timing, expression, appeal). • Proficiency in Blender and Unreal Engine 5 for keyframe animation and polish. • Ability to convey personality and motion in both realistic and stylized characters. • Excellent written communication skills for giving feedback to remote teams. • Organized and proactive, able to manage multiple projects and maintain quality standards. Nice to Have • Understanding of mocap workflows and cleanup. • Mandarin language ability or prior collaboration experience with Chinese-speaking teams. • Familiarity with Chinese cultural or cultivation themes. • Experience establishing animation style guides or documentation. • Knowledge of Control Rig or retargeting in UE5. Salary Range: $68,000 - $88,000 Annually Why Join the Snail Games USA Team? • True focus on work/life balance • Paid company holidays, vacation, and separate sick leave • Medical, dental, vision, and Life/LTD • 401k with company match Additional Information As part of the Company's activities in video game development, publishing, and short-form video content creation, certain projects, discussions, or creative materials may include themes, visuals, language, or subject matter that some individuals could find mature, violent, sexual, graphic, or otherwise sensitive in nature (collectively referred to as "Mature Content"). Examples may include, but are not limited to, depictions or descriptions of combat, violence, adult themes or relationships, suggestive or satirical humor, or strong language. Employees are expected to engage with such material in a professional and creative context as part of their job duties. Apply tot his job