MachineGames hiring Senior Gameplay Animator, Uppsala

MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the modern Wolfenstein saga and the critically acclaimed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, is looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator to join our world-class animation team.

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will be a key architect of the “feel” of our games. We are known for our “crunchy,” impactful first-person combat and seamless transitions between narrative and action. Your mission will be to bring characters—both allies and enemies—to life with a focus on weight, flow, and personality.

Job Overview

Core Responsibilities

In this role, you will work within a tight-knit department under the supervision of our Lead Gameplay Animator and Animation Director. You will be expected to:

1. Character & Combat Animation

• NPCs & Players: Create high-quality animations for non-player characters (enemies and companions) as well as the player character in both 1st and 3rd person perspectives.
• Style & Flow: Ensure all movements possess a sense of “weight” and “impact,” focusing on the flow of combat and the playability of the character.
• Hand-Key & Mocap: Utilize a blend of expert hand-key animation and motion capture editing to achieve realistic, believable results tailored to specific gameplay needs.

2. Technical Implementation & Iteration

• Engine Integration: Take full ownership of your assets by implementing them into the game engine and iterating based on gameplay feel and technical feedback.
• Prototyping: Perform quick animation “block-outs” for gameplay tests to help designers find the “fun” early in the development cycle.
• Troubleshooting: Identify and resolve animation-related technical issues quickly, working across departments to find efficient solutions.

3. Collaborative Leadership

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Collaborate daily with programmers, designers, and tech artists to develop better content implementation tools and workflows.
• Vision Alignment: Help define and maintain the high visual bar for all current and future MachineGames productions.
• Mentorship: Provide constructive, actionable feedback to peers and contribute to a culture of constant learning.

Candidate Qualifications

MachineGames is looking for an all-around animator who is detail-oriented but never loses sight of the “big picture.”

• Experience: You must have shipped at least one AAA title and participated in a full development cycle from pre-production to launch.
• Technical Mastery: Expert-level knowledge of MotionBuilder is required, particularly in editing and cleaning motion capture data. Basic knowledge of Maya is also essential.
• Animation Principles: A profound understanding of timing, dynamics, body mechanics, and weight.
• Problem Solving: You are comfortable adapting to technical dependencies and engine limitations, finding creative ways to maintain quality within performance budgets.
• Communication: Excellent written and spoken English skills are required to work within our international team.

Preferred Skills

• Creatures & Robotics: Experience animating non-human characters, such as animals, mechs, or fantastical creatures.
• Engine Versatility: Experience with proprietary editors or established engines like idTech, Unreal, or CryEngine.
• Academic Background: A Bachelor’s degree in Art, Animation, or Game Development is highly regarded.
• Fan of the Genre: A strong familiarity with MachineGames’ previous titles and a passion for first-person immersive sims.

Our Cultural Values: The MachineGames Way

MachineGames is driven by six core values that define our daily interactions and long-term goals:

1. Team Performance Over Individual Performance: We believe the best games are made when we support each other’s successes.
2. Open Door Policy: From the CEO to the interns, everyone is accessible and every voice is heard.
3. Deliver What We Promise: Reliability is the cornerstone of our trust-based culture.
4. Constructive Feedback: We give honest, actionable critiques to help the work reach its potential.
5. Ownership and Accountability: We take pride in our tasks and see them through to completion.
6. Learning from Mistakes: We view failures as opportunities to iterate and improve.

Why Move to Sweden?

Sweden offers one of the highest standards of living in the world, and MachineGames is committed to helping you settle in.

• Comprehensive Relocation: We provide a “soft landing” package, including assistance with moving costs, finding housing, and navigating the Swedish immigration system.
• Work-Life Balance: With 25+ days of paid vacation and generous parental leave, we ensure you have time to enjoy life outside the office.
• Historic Uppsala: Live in a city that blends 1,000 years of history with a modern university atmosphere. It’s safe, walkable, and perfectly located for weekend trips to Stockholm or the Swedish wilderness.

Application Requirements

To be considered for this position, you must submit a Demo Reel showcasing your gameplay animation work. We are specifically looking for examples of body mechanics, combat, and transitions that demonstrate your ability to create believable movement in a real-time environment.

MachineGames is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive, and diverse workplace.