Senior Gameplay Animator at Lighthouse Games

Senior Gameplay Animator Job Overview

• Company: Lighthouse Games
• Job Title: Senior Gameplay Animator
• Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
• Location: Royal Leamington Spa, United Kingdom
• Seniority Level: Senior
• Required Experience: Extensive Professional Experience in the Video Game Industry
• Salary Range: £55,000 – £75,000 GBP (Estimated – 2026 UK Senior Benchmarks)
• Visa Sponsorship: Not Available (Must have existing right to work in the UK)
• Primary Software: Maya and/or MotionBuilder

Studio Overview

Lighthouse Games is an ambitious AAA studio based in Royal Leamington Spa, a town renowned as the heart of the UK’s “Silicon Spa” gaming cluster. Our studio is founded on a commitment to redefining gaming experiences through technical innovation, creative bravery, and high-fidelity storytelling. We have assembled a team of industry veterans who are dedicated to creating a best-in-class title designed to resonate with global audiences. At Lighthouse, we foster a culture where every developer is empowered to contribute to the creative vision, ensuring that our final product is as polished as it is innovative.

Senior Gameplay Animator – Role Summary

We are looking for a highly seasoned Senior Gameplay Animator who possesses the technical depth and artistic maturity to elevate our character performances. As a Senior member of the team, you will not only be responsible for creating high-quality animations but also for setting the standard for realism and fluidity within the game. You will work at the core of the production, ensuring that our storytelling is translated through movement that feels grounded, responsive, and emotionally resonant.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in the space where technical implementation meets artistic nuance. You should be an expert at handling large-scale motion-capture data while possessing the refined eye of a traditional animator. This role is for a professional who enjoys getting “hands-on” with the engine and takes pride in seeing their work move flawlessly within the game environment.

Key Responsibilities and Artistic Standards

In this senior capacity, your primary responsibility is the design and production of sophisticated animations for both gameplay and cinematic sequences. You will ensure that every movement—from basic locomotion to complex combat or emotional narrative beats—integrates seamlessly into the game environment. You will be expected to lead by example, producing work that adheres to the overall artistic vision while pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the current hardware generation.

Collaboration is a fundamental aspect of this role. You will work as a bridge between Game Designers, Artists, and Programmers to ensure that animations satisfy technical gameplay requirements without losing their aesthetic appeal. You will proactively iterate on your work based on feedback from the Animation Lead and Supervisors, refining every transition and pose to ensure optimal player immersion. As a senior, you are also expected to keep a pulse on industry trends, identifying new tools and techniques that could enhance the studio’s overall workflow efficiency.

Technical Expertise and Implementation

Lighthouse Games values the ability to implement work effectively in-engine. While experience with Unreal Engine is considered an advantage, our primary focus is on your ability to manage the animation pipeline within any major game engine environment. You must demonstrate mastery over motion-capture cleanup, effectively blending captured data with hand-keyed animation to create a finished product that feels both realistic and uniquely stylized to our character’s personality.

Your expertise in Maya or MotionBuilder should be second nature, allowing you to focus on the subtleties of character performance. We are looking for an animator who understands the weight, timing, and physics of a bipedal character, but who can also apply those same principles to facial animation—a skill that is highly desirable for this position. Your judgment in applying hand-keyed touches to MoCap data will be essential in creating the “best-in-class” quality our studio aims to deliver.

Requirements and Eligibility as Senior Gameplay Animator

To be considered for this senior position, you must have an extensive professional background in the video game industry, with a specific portfolio focus on realistic character animation and motion-capture integration. Your showreel should clearly demonstrate a diversity of work, showcasing your ability to handle both high-action gameplay sequences and subtle, nuanced character moments.

Exceptional communication skills are a prerequisite, as you will be expected to articulate technical concepts and provide constructive feedback within a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. We are looking for a proactive problem-solver who can anticipate technical hurdles before they arise. Please note that Lighthouse Games is currently unable to offer VISA sponsorship for this role; therefore, all applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom and be able to commute to our Leamington Spa studio.

Benefits and Workplace Culture

Lighthouse Games believe that a high-performance team requires high-performance support. Lighthouse Games offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to provide stability and well-being for our staff. This includes 25 days of annual leave, plus an additional day for your birthday, and a full studio shutdown between Christmas and New Year to ensure everyone has time to disconnect and recharge.

Our financial and health provisions include a discretionary bonus scheme, a private pension scheme, and comprehensive private healthcare. We place a significant emphasis on health and well-being, providing dental care, optical treatments, and dedicated mental health support. We strive to maintain a caring and stimulating environment where industry veterans and new talent alike can thrive and produce their best work.

How to Apply for Senior Gameplay Animator

If you are a Senior Gameplay Animator looking to join a studio where your expertise will directly shape a new AAA franchise, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a link to your demo reel. Your reel should showcase a strong grasp of realistic movement, MoCap cleanup, and character-driven storytelling.

Lighthouse Games is an equal opportunity employer. Lighthouse Games look forward to seeing how your skills and passion can contribute to our growing team in Royal Leamington Spa.