Mob Entertainment, the visionary studio behind the global indie horror phenomenon Poppy Playtime, is expanding its creative frontiers. We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Animator to join our growing team in the United States. This role is a vital bridge between the artistry of animation and the precision of engineering, ensuring our characters move with the haunting fluidity and emotional impact that our fans expect.

With over 100 billion YouTube views across our franchise, Mob Entertainment is a fast-growing, mid-sized studio that prioritizes immersive storytelling and atmosphere. If you are passionate about building robust animation pipelines in Unreal Engine and pushing the boundaries of interactive horror, we want to hear from you.

Quick Job Overview: Senior Technical Animator

About Mob Entertainment

Mob Entertainment is a startup multimedia studio turned mid-sized powerhouse. We specialize in crafting memorable, atmospheric, and emotionally impactful gameplay experiences. Our studio culture is built on a foundation of creative ambition and production discipline. We thrive on creating “unforgettable moments” where tension and player agency meet. As we expand our reach into new media and larger game titles, we are looking for disciplined professionals who can help us maintain our high-quality standards while navigating the unique challenges of a rapidly scaling studio.

Role Overview & Mission

The Senior Technical Animator serves as the technical backbone of the animation department. Your mission is to design, implement, and maintain the systems that bring our characters to life. You will be responsible for the “how” of animation—developing the rigs, automated systems, and engine integrations that allow our animators to focus on their craft without being hindered by technical bottlenecks.

You will define the technical standards for our animation workflows, ensuring that every asset—from the simplest prop to the most complex creature—is optimized for performance, memory, and runtime stability. This role requires a deep understanding of both DCC tools (like Maya) and the inner workings of Unreal Engine.

1. Animation Systems & Rigging Architecture

• System Design: Develop and maintain sophisticated animation systems, including complex rigs, automated lip-sync solutions, and runtime physics-based animation.
• Rigging & Deformation: Create skeletons and skinning solutions that support high-fidelity movements while remaining performant within the game engine.
• State Machines: Design and manage animation state machines, blend trees, and layered animation systems to ensure fluid transitions and responsive gameplay.

2. Pipeline Development & Tooling

• Workflow Automation: Build custom tools and scripts (using Python or MEL) to automate repetitive tasks, significantly increasing the efficiency of the animation team.
• Engine Integration: Work closely with Gameplay Engineers to ensure seamless integration of animation features, including root motion, IK systems, and procedural animation.
• Documentation: Establish and document best-practices for animation pipelines, ensuring the studio has a clear “source of truth” for technical workflows.

3. Performance Optimization & Troubleshooting

• Optimization: Profile animation assets to ensure they meet performance constraints for PC and console, managing memory footprints and runtime stability.
• Debugging: Serve as the primary point of contact for resolving complex rigging or animation glitches throughout the production cycle.
• Mocap Support: Oversee motion capture integration, retargeting workflows, and the cleaning of captured data to fit our stylized character rigs.

4. Mentorship & Collaboration

• Leadership: Mentor junior and intermediate technical animators, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence.
• Cross-Discipline Sync: Participate in sprint planning and reviews using Jira and Confluence, collaborating with Art, Design, and Engineering to ensure animation supports the broader vision of the game.

Professional Experience

• Industry Tenure: At least 5 years of professional experience in technical animation or rigging within the video game industry.
• Proven Track Record: Experience shipping at least one AAA or significant mid-sized studio title.
• Horror/Atmospheric Focus: An appreciation for how technical animation contributes to tension and “scare factor” in immersive games.

Technical Proficiencies

• Unreal Engine Expertise: Deep knowledge of UE4/UE5, including Blueprints, Animation Blueprints, and ideally Control Rig.
• DCC Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Maya for rigging, skinning, and tool development.
• Scripting Languages: Strong capability in Python, MEL, or C++ to build robust pipelines.
• Animation Foundations: A solid understanding of traditional animation principles to better support the creative team’s needs.

Nice to Have (Bonus Skills)

• Experience with physics-based animation (Chaos, PhysX) or ragdoll systems.
• Familiarity with facial animation pipelines and FACS-based rigging.
• Experience developing custom Maya plugins or Unreal engine modifications.
• Knowledge of optimization for multi-platform releases (Console/Mobile/PC).

This is more than just a job; it is a chance to be a part of a cultural phenomenon. Mob Entertainment offers:

• High Impact: In a mid-sized studio, your work is visible. You aren’t just a gear in a machine; you are a key architect of the player experience.
• Creative Freedom: We value innovation. If you have a better way to build a rig or a faster way to process mocap, we want to hear it.
• Growth Potential: As our studio scales, so do the opportunities for leadership and specialized career paths.
• Inclusive Environment: We are an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and welcoming workplace.