At Deck13 Interactive, we don’t just build games; we forge worlds. From the gritty, industrial landscapes of The Surge to the sweeping, sand-blasted vistas of Atlas Fallen, our studio has spent over two decades defining the “AA” action-RPG space. As we embark on our most ambitious project yet, we are looking for a Senior Animator who possesses the rare blend of technical precision and artistic soul.
In this role, you aren’t just moving bones; you are the architect of the player’s physical connection to the game. You will define the weight of a heavy blade, the visceral snap of a parry, and the subtle emotional cues of a protagonist’s face. Working within the cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5 ecosystem, you will bridge the gap between raw motion-capture data and hyper-responsive gameplay.
Job Overview: Senior 3D Animator
| Category | Details |
| Studio Name | Deck13 Interactive GmbH |
| Industry | PC & Console Game Development (Action-RPG Focus) |
| Seniority Level | Senior (5+ Years Experience) |
| Primary Tech Stack | Unreal Engine 5, 3ds Max, CAT, MotionBuilder |
| Language Requirements | Professional English (German is a bonus but not required) |
| Work Model | Hybrid (Frankfurt Office) or 100% Remote (within Germany) |
| Vacation Policy | 28 Days + Dec 24th and 31st (Paid) |
Estimated Compensation & Financials ::
Note: Final compensation is determined by portfolio quality, specific years of industry experience, and interview performance.
| Position Tier | Annual Base Salary (Est.) | Monthly Net (Approx.) |
| Senior Animator (L1) | €68,000 – €75,000 | €3,400 – €3,750 |
| Senior Animator (L2/Lead Path) | €75,000 – €88,000 | €3,750 – €4,300 |
Your Quest: The Role & Responsibilities
As a Senior Animator, your daily mission involves navigating the intersection of high-fidelity aesthetics and frame-perfect responsiveness.
1. Masterful Animation Creation
You will be responsible for the end-to-end animation pipeline. This includes crafting high-quality keyframe animations that prioritize physical weight and kinetic energy. Whether it’s a massive boss creature or a nimble player character, you ensure that every movement feels grounded in the world’s physics. You will also oversee facial animation, ensuring our characters convey nuanced emotion during cinematic moments.
2. Motion Capture & Data Integration
Deck13 utilizes modern MoCap solutions (including Xsens). You will take raw data and “clean” it—not just removing jitter, but stylizing and retargeting the motion to fit our specific art direction. You understand that MoCap is a foundation, not a finished product, and you have the skills to layer keyframed personality on top of captured movement.
3. Technical Collaboration & Engine Mastery
You won’t work in a vacuum. You will collaborate daily with:
- Combat Designers: To ensure animation recovery frames and hit-windows feel “fair” and satisfying.
- Technical Artists: To optimize rigs and troubleshoot skinning issues.
- Lead Animator: To maintain a consistent visual style across the entire project.
- Engine Implementation: Utilizing UE5’s Control Rig and Sequencer to bring your work into the live build.
Your Toolkit: Requirements
We are looking for a veteran who has survived multiple shipping cycles and understands the “marathon” nature of game development.
Must-Haves:
- Experience: At least 5 years in the games industry, specifically with professional credits on published PC or Console titles.
- Portfolio: A showreel that makes us stop and watch. We want to see combat, weight, and clear “pose-to-pose” storytelling.
- Engine Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Unreal Engine 5. You should be comfortable with Blueprints related to animation and state machines.
- Artistic Foundation: Deep understanding of the 12 principles of animation, applied specifically to the constraints of real-time gameplay.
- The “Human” Element: Excellent interpersonal skills. You can give and take feedback without ego, focusing solely on making the game better.
Bonus Points (The “Epic Loot”):
- Experience with 3ds Max and CAT (Character Animation Toolkit).
- Familiarity with Movella Xsens hardware or Xsens Metagloves.
- Knowledge of MotionBuilder for high-volume data processing.
- A background in rigging or skinning—being able to fix a weight-painting issue on the fly is a massive plus.
Why Deck13? (The Power-Ups)
We believe that great games are made by people who are healthy, inspired, and respected. Our benefits package is designed to support your life both inside and outside the studio.
- Well-being: We provide free access to Bloom, an online mental health platform, because we know game dev can be intense.
- Growth: Every employee has a yearly learning and development budget. Want to go to GDC or take a specialized Masterclass? We’ve got you.
- Flexibility: We trust our seniors. Whether you want to work from our modern Frankfurt office near the Messe or from your home office in Berlin or Munich, we provide the infrastructure to keep you connected.
- Culture: We are a diverse, international team. We offer free language courses to help you integrate into Germany (or just learn a new skill) and host regular team events to blow off steam.
- Logistics: We help with the boring stuff. Monthly allowances for gym memberships, internet/remote costs, and the Deutschlandticket mean your base salary goes further.
Our Commitment to Inclusivity
Deck13 is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity because we know that a team with different backgrounds creates more interesting, inclusive, and successful games. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, religion, orientation, or disability.
How to Apply::
Ready to start your quest? Send us your Resume and a link to your Showreel/Portfolio. We are specifically looking for work that demonstrates combat mechanics and creature/character weight.
