Naughty Dog is seeking a visionary and highly skilled Senior Technical Gameplay Animator to bridge the gap between creative artistry and advanced engineering. In this specialized role, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex, high-fidelity runtime animation systems and dynamic character behaviors that form the backbone of our gameplay experiences.
This is not a character rigging position; rather, it is a role designed for an expert animator who possesses deep technical programming or scripting capabilities. Operating from our studio in Santa Monica, California, under a hybrid or onsite arrangement, you will collaborate closely with Animation, Design, and Gameplay Engineering teams.
Your goal will be to pioneer next-generation animation pipelines, build cutting-edge runtime tools (such as advanced state machines and blend trees), and author high-quality animation content to test and prove these systems in-engine. As a senior member of the “Kennel,” you will take full ownership of complex technical initiatives, mentor peers, and directly influence the cinematic gameplay standards of our upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Job Overview : Senior Technical Gameplay Animator
| Attribute | Details |
| Job Title | Senior Technical Gameplay Animator |
| Company | Naughty Dog (Sony Interactive Entertainment) |
| Location | Santa Monica, California, USA |
| Work Arrangement | Hybrid / Onsite |
| Experience Level | Senior (5+ Years of Industry Experience) |
| Core Technical Stack | Python, C#, C++, Maya, MotionBuilder |
| Specialization | Runtime Animation Systems, State Machines, Blend Trees, IK Solvers |
| Key Projects | Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet (and legacy support for The Last of Us franchise) |
| Compensation | $126,400 – $227,500 USD Base + Annual Bonus & Sony Benefits |
Welcome to Naughty Dog
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed video games that consistently shatter the boundaries of narrative depth, gameplay design, and graphical technology. Our studio is widely lauded for creating evocative, character-driven stories defined by an uncompromising attention to detail.
From the sweeping, cinematic survival-horror of The Last of Us franchise—which recently expanded its reach with The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PS5 and groundbreaking PC releases for both Part I and Part II—to our rich history of genre-defining action, we strive to make games that leave a lasting cultural impact.
At Naughty Dog, we have curated a community of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the global interactive entertainment industry. We believe that a broad, diverse range of cultural and life experiences contributes fundamentally to the overall well-being of our studio and the ultimate success of our titles.
We are heavily committed to continuous innovation, and we want talented individuals who share our passion for storytelling and technical excellence to join us at the kennel as we develop our highly anticipated new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Position Purpose & Detailed Scope
The boundary between real-time gameplay and cinematic narrative continues to blur, demanding animation systems that are incredibly responsive to player input while maintaining flawless physical realism. The Senior Technical Gameplay Animator is the linchpin of this ecosystem.
This role requires a rare combination of skills: the artistic eye of a world-class animator and the logical mindset of a software developer. You will not merely consume tools provided by engineers; you will actively participate in defining how those tools are architected. By mastering in-engine systems like state machines, blend trees, parametric blending, and complex inverse kinematics (IK) solvers, you will transform raw motion-capture data and hand-keyed animation into living, breathing character systems that react organically to changing virtual environments.
Key Responsibilities
1. System Design & Pipeline Innovation
- Workflow Optimization: Facilitate the design, creation, and deployment of proprietary tools, scripts, and workflows that empower the broader animation team to build complex, high-quality character behaviors.
- Pipeline Streamlining: Identify structural bottlenecks in the existing animation pipeline (from DCC export to runtime engine translation) and implement automated code-driven solutions to optimize efficiency.
- Strategic R&D: Contribute directly to the long-term strategic development of Naughty Dog’s internal animation technologies, engine capabilities, and artistic processes.
2. Implementation, Content Creation & Troubleshooting
- Runtime Implementation: Build, structure, and maintain complex in-game animation networks, utilizing runtime tools such as state machines, interactive blend trees, and procedural animation nodes.
- High-Quality Animation Authoring: Create visually stunning, premium-tier animation content (handling both keyframe systems and motion-capture data translation) to support newly developed gameplay systems and character behaviors, ensuring flawless implementation in-engine.
- Cross-Departmental Debugging: Collaborate intimately with Animation, Game Design, and Systems Engineering departments to analyze, isolate, and resolve complex runtime animation bugs and optimization challenges.
3. Leadership, Quality Bar & Knowledge Management
- Defining the Standard: Partner with animation leadership to establish, evolve, and maintain the studio’s signature artistic style and unparalleled quality bar for in-game animation mechanics.
- Project Ownership: Take complete professional ownership of high-risk, ambiguous tech-animation sub-projects from initial concept through to final shipping Polish.
- Mentorship & Training: Guide, inspire, and mentor junior and mid-level technical animators within the department, fostering a supportive culture of technical curiosity and excellence.
- Technical Documentation: Author clean, clear, and comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and technical reference wikis detailing internal tools, runtime nodes, and workflow best practices.
About You (Selection Criteria)
To excel in this role, you must be a proactive, communicative problem-solver who enjoys working at the cutting edge of real-time interactive technology.
Experience & Artistry
- Industry Tenure: 5+ years of professional, hands-on experience working specifically in technical animation or gameplay animation roles within the video game industry (AAA experience preferred).
- Proven Portfolio: A stellar portfolio or demo reel showcasing a proven track record of creating or implementing visually stunning, highly responsive animations across diverse gameplay genres.
- Artistic Understanding: A sophisticated comprehension of weight, momentum, timing, and human anatomy, allowing you to quickly spot and correct unnatural artifacts in complex blend trees.
Technical Skill Matrix
- Programming & Scripting: Strong proficiency in programming or scripting languages is required, with a focus on Python, C#, or C++ to write robust production tools and interface with engine systems.
- Runtime Systems Expertise: A comprehensive, expert-level understanding of interactive runtime animation tools, including state machine logic, blend trees, procedural physics overlays, ragdoll blending, and custom IK solvers.
- DCC Pipeline Mastery: Advanced expertise navigating digital content creation pipelines built around Industry standard software, specifically Autodesk Maya or Autodesk MotionBuilder, including familiarity with their respective backend SDKs/APIs.
- Proactive Collaboration: Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to clearly explain complex technical pipeline limitations or opportunities to non-technical creative designers and animators.
Compensation, Perks & Benefits
Base Salary & Financial Packages
The estimated base salary range for this position in the Los Angeles area is $126,400 to $227,500 USD.
At Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), several key factors are evaluated when establishing individual compensation packages. The finalized offer is dependent on job-related parameters, including the candidate’s deep domain knowledge, specific technical skill sets, years of relevant experience, production track record, and alignment with our hybrid working policies. This role may also be eligible for comprehensive additional compensation rewards, including an annual performance bonus and other long-term studio incentive plans.
Top-Tier Corporate Benefits
Naughty Dog employees have access to Sony Interactive Entertainment’s premium, competitive benefits package, designed to support long-term physical, mental, and financial well-being:
- Comprehensive Health Care: Elite medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their dependents.
- Financial Future Support: A robust 401(k) retirement plan with competitive company matching incentives.
- Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off (PTO) policies alongside paid studio holidays.
- Wellness Programs: Tailored health, fitness, and holistic mental wellness initiatives, including specialized counseling access.
- Sony Discounts: Coveted employee discounts on a vast selection of premium Sony consumer electronics, PlayStation hardware, software, and entertainment products.
Equal Opportunity & Background Checks
Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment are proud to be Equal Opportunity Employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive, safe, and collaborative work environment where all individuals are welcome, respected, and empowered.
Please note: Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts thorough background checks at the offer stage for all prospective employees in accordance with local legal frameworks (which may include criminal history reviews for certain positions) to ensure studio safety and protect proprietary internal technologies. All personal information collected during this process is securely handled in compliance with our Candidate Privacy Notice.
Application & Selection Process
As a part of Naughty Dog’s rigorous application process, candidates are expected to submit a comprehensive digital portfolio or demo reel showcasing their technical animation implementations, runtime network layouts, or toolsets. Qualified applicants may also be required to successfully complete a comprehensive technical animation test designed to evaluate programming aptitude, animation quality, and in-engine problem-solving abilities.
