Hiring Senior Technical Animator at Riot Games

Riot Games is looking for a visionary Technical Animator to join our elite R&D team in Los Angeles. This is a high-impact role dedicated to an unpublished, large-scale MMO project that aims to redefine the boundaries of player interaction and creature performance. As a Technical Animator, you will sit at the vital crossroads of animation, design, and engineering, serving as the architect of the systems that bring our game world to life.

In this position, you aren’t just animating characters; you are building the living, breathing infrastructure of a massive multiplayer universe. From defining complex state machines to optimizing runtime IK and motion warping, the Technical Animator ensures that every movement—from a player’s hero to a gargantuan world boss—is believable, responsive, and performant.

Job Overview: Technical Animator

Category	Details
Primary Job Title	Technical Animator (Senior Level)
Company	Riot Games
Project Type	Unpublished R&D Product (MMO)
Location	Los Angeles, California, USA
Base Salary Range	$185,200 – $258,000 USD
Core Technology	Unreal Engine (Advanced Animation Blueprints)
Experience Req.	5+ Years in Games or Technical Animation

Riot Games recognizes that a world-class Technical Animator is a rare and valuable asset. Our compensation package is designed to reflect the technical complexity and creative leadership required for this senior-level role.

1. Salary and Equity

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Base Salary: The hiring range for Los Angeles is $185,200 to $258,000. Final offers are based on your specific craft expertise and historical experience.
Incentive Compensation: Performance-based bonuses are awarded to recognize individual and team achievements.
Equity & 401K: This role includes equity grants and a 401K plan with a competitive company match, ensuring you are invested in Riot’s future.

2. Health and Wellness

Comprehensive Insurance: Full medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage.
Support Systems: Paid parental leave for you and your family, and short/long-term disability protection.

3. Lifestyle and Balance

Open PTO: We champion a healthy work/life balance through an open paid time off policy.
Flexible Schedules: We empower our Rioters with the flexibility to manage their work in a way that fuels their best creative output.

As a Technical Animator on the R&D team, you are responsible for the “how” of animation. You bridge the gap between the artistic vision of the animation team and the technical constraints of a massive multiplayer engine.

1. Systems Architecture

The Technical Animator builds and maintains the core animation frameworks. You will develop complex state machines, layered animation systems, and override logic that supports split-body setups. Whether it is a player character, a complex NPC, or an atmospheric prop, you ensure the technical setup is robust and scalable.

2. Unreal Engine Mastery

You will dive deep into Unreal Engine, owning the health and maintainability of Animation Blueprints and graphs. A key part of your role is defining best practices for setup, ensuring that every asset is debuggable and well-documented for the rest of the team.

3. Optimization for MMO Scale

Developing for a “massive” world requires a different mindset. The Technical Animator drives optimization efforts to meet strict performance and memory targets. You will ensure that character systems scale effectively, allowing hundreds of actors to interact simultaneously without frame-rate degradation.

4. Innovation in Motion

You will develop scalable animation retargeting strategies to support characters and creatures of varying proportions. By implementing runtime IK and motion warping, you provide the tools needed to achieve high-fidelity motion that adapts to dynamic environments and terrain.

What We’re Looking For in a Technical Animator

Riot Games looks for more than just technical skill; we look for “Player Empathy.” Every system a Technical Animator builds should ultimately serve the goal of delighting the player.

Required Qualifications:

Professional Tenure: At least 5 years of experience as a Technical Animator or Technical Artist within the games industry.
Unreal Expertise: Deep, expert-level knowledge of Unreal Engine animation workflows, including blend spaces, state machines, and Animation Blueprints.
System Design: A proven track record of creating reusable and scalable animation systems for large-scope character ecosystems.
Artistic Foundation: A strong understanding of the 12 principles of animation, human/creature anatomy, and the physical laws of motion.
Collaboration: Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to act as a translator between artists and engineers.

Desired Skills:

Advanced Tooling: Proficiency with Unreal Control Rig and Sequencer.
Coding/Scripting: Experience with C++ or Python to extend Unreal’s native capabilities.
Technical Rigging: Expertise in Autodesk Maya to support the rigging and animation pipeline.
Physics Systems: Experience with middleware like Kawaii, Chaos, or Havok.
MMO Background: Prior experience dealing with the specific challenges of large-scale character ecosystems and networked animation.

At Riot Games, our mission is to be the most player-centric game company in the world. This mission drives every decision we make. Whether you are building a new animation graph or supporting a global live service, you are part of a team that puts the player experience above all else.

We believe that we are better when we work together. We foster a collaborative environment where every Technical Animator is empowered to bring their unique perspective and craft expertise to the table. Our goal is to build teams that represent the diverse global community of players we serve.

Riot Games is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all Rioters. We consider all qualified applicants for employment, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Note on Background Checks: Per Los Angeles County ordinances, certain duties such as safeguarding confidential data and accessing secure digital networks may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories. These duties are essential to maintaining the safety and security of our players and our company.

How to Apply

To be considered for the role of Technical Animator, please submit:

1. A Professional Resume: Detailing your experience with Unreal Engine and technical animation.
2. A Portfolio/Showreel: Highlighting your work with animation state machines, blueprints, and technical problem-solving.
3. Project Breakdown: A summary of your specific contributions to past titles, particularly regarding character systems and scalability.

Join Riot Games and help us build the next great MMO experience. Apply today to become our next Senior Technical Animator.