The Coalition is a Microsoft first-party development studio located in Vancouver, Canada. We are the official home of the Gears of War franchise, and our objective is to forge the future of the IP and push the limits of Microsoft’s entertainment platforms and devices. Our team is comprised of deep creative and technical talent from across our industry and beyond, working cohesively to delight our fan base and pass expectations of what is possible. As a studio, we lead from our values and work together to promote respect and inclusion, a growth mindset and grit, all while putting our team first! Join us and let’s go far together! 

The Coalition is seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Technical Gameplay Animator, with a proven track record in collaborating with peers to develop and maintain gameplay animation systems.  In this position, you are expected to work with our animation systems in Unreal Engine 5 to develop and support workflows that empower animators to achieve our animation quality goals, while also achieving our gameplay responsiveness and behavioral goals. It is important that you have good communication skills and are able to collaboratively work with peers.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with peers in the design and implementation of animation state machines, behaviors, and runtime solutions, in a manner that is consistent with studio best practices.
• Collaborate with Engineers and Leads in the creation of animation behavior tools and techniques that allow the building of complex movement systems in a manner that is easily accessible to content creators.
• Problem solve in-game animation implementation issues.
• Support the animation team with any technical animation issues.
• Look for opportunities to improve our animation pipeline and provide solutions for technical animation efficiencies and issues
• Be a positive and creative force in the team, working in a manner that supports and encourages a diverse and inclusive culture.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or Certificate in a related art/technical field AND 4+ years experience in related field working on computer games or entertainment.
  • OR equivalent experience.

• 4+ years of experience in AAA video game development, creating and defining high-quality real-time gameplay animation systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Real-time engine experience, ideally in Uneral Engine 5 creating animation blueprints.
• Experience with Python is a benefit.
• Experience with Rigging is a benefit.
• Self-motivated, creative problem solver, great communicator.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Passion for the industry and an understanding of industry trends and technologies.