Lighthouse Games hiring Gameplay Animator (Mid-level)

JOb Overview

• Company: Lighthouse Games
• Job Title: Gameplay Animator
• Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
• Location: Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
• Seniority Level: Mid-Level
• Required Experience: 2+ Years in Video Game Production
• Salary Range: £38,000 – £52,000 GBP (Estimated – 2026 UK regional benchmarks)
• Industry: AAA Game Development
• Core Tech Stack: Maya, Blender, Unreal Engine / Unity

Studio Overview

Lighthouse Games is an ambitious AAA studio situated in the heart of Leamington Spa, one of the UK’s most prominent hubs for game development. Founded on the principles of creative autonomy and technical innovation, our studio is dedicated to crafting world-class gaming experiences that push the boundaries of storytelling and interactive design. We are building a team of industry veterans and rising talent who share a common goal: to create original titles that resonate with players globally.

At Lighthouse Games, we believe that the best games are born from a culture of collaboration and respect. We provide our developers with the environment they need to innovate, ensuring that every voice is heard and every discipline is valued. As we embark on our latest high-profile project, we are looking for a Gameplay Animator who is ready to leave their mark on a new generation of games.

Role Summary

Lighthouse Games is seeking a highly skilled and creative Gameplay Animator to join our Animation Department. In this role, your primary objective will be to bridge the gap between artistic expression and technical functionality. You will be responsible for creating fluid, responsive, and highly polished animations that define how players interact with the game world.

The ideal candidate understands that gameplay animation is not just about aesthetic beauty; it is about “feel.” You will work at the intersection of design and technology, ensuring that every jump, strike, or subtle movement responds instantly to player input while maintaining a high degree of visual fidelity. This role is perfect for an animator who finds joy in the technical challenge of in-engine implementation and the artistic challenge of lifelike character performance.

Key Responsibilities and Performance Expectations

Your daily focus will involve the creation of high-quality gameplay animations that prioritize responsiveness and player agency. You will be expected to craft sequences that feel weightful and grounded, ensuring that the character’s physics and timing align with the mechanical requirements of the game. Whether working on bipedal locomotion or complex combat maneuvers, your work will be the primary lens through which the player experiences the game’s physical world.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of the Lighthouse workflow. You will partner closely with Gameplay Designers to conceptualize animation systems that support specific mechanics. This iterative process involves taking a concept from a rough block-out to a final, polished state, often requiring you to troubleshoot transitions and blend trees to ensure motion is seamless. You will be expected to take ownership of your animations from the initial keyframing stage through to final integration in the game engine.

Technical Integration and Problem Solving

A significant portion of this role involves the technical side of animation. You will collaborate with the Technical Animation and Programming teams to address challenges related to state machines, layering, and procedural systems. We value artists who are comfortable “under the hood” of a game engine, diagnosing why a transition might feel jarring or how to optimize a skeleton for better performance without losing expressive quality.

While Lighthouse Games appreciate technical rigor, we also value the human touch. You should have the judgment to know when to rely on motion-capture data and when to apply hand-keyed techniques to enhance the “appeal” and clarity of an action. Your ability to clean up MoCap data while retaining the nuances of a performance—or adding character-specific flourishes through traditional animation—will be vital to our studio’s signature quality.

Required Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you must have a minimum of two years of professional experience specifically within the video game industry. We are looking for a proven track record of delivering animations for shipped or mid-development titles, ideally within the action or adventure genres. A strong portfolio or showreel is mandatory, demonstrating your grasp of weight, timing, and character silhouette in a gameplay context.

Proficiency in industry-standard software, specifically Maya or Blender, is essential. You should possess a deep understanding of the principles of animation and how they translate to a non-linear medium where player control is constant. Experience with game engines—preferably Unreal Engine or Unity—is required, as you will be expected to manage your assets within the engine environment.

Communication and Cultural Fit

At Lighthouse Games, we work as a cohesive unit. You must be able to communicate complex animation concepts to non-animators, such as producers or programmers, and be open to receiving and providing constructive feedback. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about the medium, stays informed about the latest industry trends, and is eager to share new techniques with the wider team to improve our collective output.

The ideal candidate is someone who is methodical in their work but remains flexible in the face of shifting production needs. A keen eye for detail and a “player-first” mindset are what will set you apart. We want an animator who plays games, understands what makes movement feel satisfying, and has the technical discipline to replicate that feeling for our audience.

Technical Assets and Preferred Skills

While not strictly required, experience with Unreal Engine’s animation toolsets (such as Sequencer or Blueprint animation graphs) would be a significant advantage. Additionally, familiarity with scripting languages like Python or MEL is a plus, as it allows for the automation of repetitive tasks and the customization of personal workflows. Experience with facial animation or complex creature rigging will also be viewed favorably during the selection process.

Benefits and Employee Well-being

Lighthouse Games is committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that supports both professional stability and personal health. We offer 25 days of annual leave, plus an additional day for your birthday, and a dedicated studio shutdown between Christmas and New Year to ensure the team can recharge.

Lighthouse Games financial and health benefits include a discretionary bonus scheme, a private pension plan, and top-tier private healthcare. We also provide extensive support for physical and mental well-being, including dental care, optical treatments, and access to professional mental health resources. We believe that a supported team is a creative team, and we strive to make Lighthouse a place where you can build a long-term career.

Application Process

If you are ready to help us build a new world at Lighthouse Games, please submit your application through our careers portal. Your application must include a link to your demo reel, showcasing relevant gameplay animation work. Candidates who pass the initial screening may be asked to complete a technical animation test to demonstrate their skills in timing and in-engine implementation.

Lighthouse Games are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We look forward to seeing your work and discussing how you can contribute to our vision in Leamington Spa.