ArenaNet hiring Senior Gameplay Animator , Bellevue 2026

Job Overview

• Company: ArenaNet (a subsidiary of NCSOFT)
• Job Title: Senior Gameplay Animator
• Job Type: 12-Month Contract (Hourly)
• Location: Vancouver, BC / Bellevue, WA / Remote
• Work Model: Hybrid or Remote
• Seniority Level: Senior
• Required Experience: 5+ Years in the Game Industry
• Salary Range: $38.00 – $48.00 Per Hour (CAD/USD equivalent)
• Reporting Structure: Animation Lead / Art Director
• Industry: Video Game Development / MMORPG

Executive Summary

ArenaNet, the world-renowned developer behind the award-winning Guild Wars franchise, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Gameplay Animator for an exciting, unannounced project. This is a 12-month contract opportunity for a veteran artist who excels at the intersection of cinematic expression and tight, responsive gameplay mechanics.

As a Senior Animator, you will be a cornerstone of the development team, responsible for defining the kinetic “feel” of a new world. We are looking for a specialist who can breathe life into a diverse cast of characters and creatures, ensuring that every combat move and locomotion cycle feels impactful to the player. Whether working from our Bellevue, WA studio or remotely, you will collaborate with industry-leading designers and technical artists to push the boundaries of animation in Unreal Engine 5.

Company Overview: Games as Art

At ArenaNet, we have always operated under the guiding principle that games are a profound form of art. They are a medium through which we communicate complex ideas, tell moving stories, and reflect the diverse cultures of our players. Since our founding, we have fostered a passionate global community, with over 21 million players engaging in the Guild Wars universe.

Our Commitment to Diversity: We believe that to build games for every kind of person, our studio must be comprised of every kind of person. This philosophy is backed by industry trends and internal data. Statistics from the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and the ESA highlight the evolving landscape of the industry:

• Approximately 24-30% of the global game development workforce identifies as female.

• In the U.S. game industry, racial representation includes approximately 7-8% Hispanic/Latino, 4-5% Black/African American, and 18-20% Asian professionals.

• At ArenaNet, we actively work to exceed these benchmarks by fostering an inclusive environment where 100% of our team members—regardless of ethnicity, gender, or background—have the opportunity to shine. We recognize that diverse teams are statistically more innovative, and we encourage candidates from all underrepresented groups to apply.

Role Overview

The Senior Gameplay Animator is a critical technical and creative role focused on the “moment-to-moment” experience of the player. You will be tasked with creating AAA-quality animations for locomotion and combat, specializing in both bipedal characters and multi-limbed creatures.

This role requires a deep mastery of Maya for keyframe excellence and a sophisticated understanding of Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) for runtime implementation. You will not only create the assets but also help define the technical targets and animation systems that allow those assets to respond instantly to player input. Your goal is to achieve an “eye-catching” style that maintains clarity and responsiveness in high-intensity combat scenarios.

Key Responsibilities

Animation Production

• Combat & Locomotion: Author high-fidelity animations for a variety of characters and creatures, ensuring a seamless blend between idle, movement, and attack states.

• Performance Crafting: Utilize a hybrid workflow of high-level keyframing and motion capture (MOCAP) enhancement to create compelling, expressive performances.

• Technical Iteration: Work closely with Technical Art to refine character rigs and animation pipelines, ensuring tools are optimized for creative output.

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

• Design Alignment: Partner with the Design team to ensure animations provide the necessary visual cues for gameplay mechanics while maintaining “frame-perfect” responsiveness.

• Directional Synergy: Execute the vision of the Animation Lead and Art Director to maintain stylistic consistency across the project.

• System Development: Contribute to the architecture of gameplay systems, providing input on how animation data is triggered and blended in-game.

Team Contribution & Mentorship

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participate in group discussions, sharing workflows, and providing constructive, healthy feedback to peers.

• Quality Assurance: Participate in studio-wide playtests to evaluate the “feel” of the game, identifying areas for kinetic improvement.

Required Qualifications & Technical Skills

Professional Background

• Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional experience specifically as a Gameplay Animator in the games industry.

• Portfolio: A professional-grade demo reel demonstrating elite keyframing skills, a deep understanding of weight and kinetics, and shipped gameplay examples.

Software & Technical Proficiency

• Maya: Expert-level knowledge of Maya for character animation.

• Unreal Engine 5: Strong understanding of UE5 workflows, including the implementation of content into runtime systems.

• MOCAP: Proven experience enhancing, cleaning, and implementing motion capture data into a professional pipeline.

Soft Skills

• Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills; ability to articulate complex animation concepts to non-animators.

• Problem-Solving: The ability to explore creative and technical solutions in an “ambiguous space” during the early stages of an unannounced project.

• Time Management: Excellent organizational skills to handle a high-volume production schedule within a 12-month contract window.

Nice to Have (Bonus Skills)

• Technical Artistry: Skills in rigging or scripting (Python/MEL).

• UE5 Specialization: Deep experience with Animation Blueprints, Montages, and the Sequencer toolset.

Benefits and Perks

This position is a 12-month contract offered through our third-party employing agency.

• Competitive Hourly Pay: $49.04 – $73.56 USD per hour (Targeting the minimum to midpoint range).

• Overtime: Eligibility for overtime compensation when applicable.

• Health & Wellness: Eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Financial Future: Access to a 401(k) plan.

• Flexibility: Options for Flexible and Dependent Care Spending Accounts.

Application Process

To apply for this role, please submit your resume and a link to your portfolio/demo reel through the ArenaNet careers portal.

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 13th, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT.

ArenaNet is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a positive, inclusive work environment for all team members.