Animator

About Frontier Developments

Frontier Developments is an independent game developer and publisher based in Cambridge, UK, known for creating immersive management simulation games that offer deep gameplay and artistic quality. The studio is located in a vibrant tech hub and boasts a dedicated team focused on maintaining and expanding its notable game portfolio.

Role Overview

This opportunity is available as a full-time role with a hybrid working arrangement requiring a minimum of three days per week in the Cambridge studio. Comprehensive relocation assistance is available for candidates who need to move.

Responsibilities

• Produce expressive and polished character and creature animations using Maya.
• Integrate animations into Frontier’s proprietary Cobra game engine.
• Work collaboratively with Character Art, Programming, Design, and Visual Effects teams.
• Follow guidance from the Lead Animator and Game Director to fulfill creative vision.
• Engage in a constructive feedback culture to continually enhance output quality.
• Address production challenges both creatively and technically.
• Maintain precise task tracking and perform asset validation to reduce errors.
• Offer feedback to external development partners as required.
• Support and mentor junior animators, fostering knowledge sharing within the team.

Candidate Requirements

• Demonstrable experience creating high-quality animation assets.
• Advanced skills with Maya’s character animation tools.
• Strong grasp of body mechanics, posing, timing, and expressive acting choices.
• Experience animating creatures with believable motion.
• Familiarity with animation state machines.
• Knowledge of version control systems such as SVN or Perforce.
• Excellent time management and communication abilities.
• Basic understanding of rigging pipelines.

Desirable Skills

• Experience using external animation behavior tree software like Havok, Unity, or Unreal.
• Scripting skills in Python or MEL.
• Experience mentoring junior animation staff.

Benefits and Work Environment

Frontier offers a supportive and collaborative environment where talented individuals contribute to creating enduring games. The company prioritizes employee wellbeing, promoting a balanced work/life dynamic with various health initiatives. The compensation package includes a competitive salary, annual bonus based on success, share options, life insurance, private family healthcare, flexible working hours, enhanced parental leave, subsidized meals, relocation support, Cycle to Work schemes, complimentary bike servicing, and social events.

Frontier is committed to inclusivity and supports candidates requiring reasonable accommodations during recruitment. For any questions, candidates can contact the recruitment team via email.