Gameplay Animator – Senior/Lead

Velan Studios, Inc.

Senior Gameplay Animator at Velan Studios crafting expressive animations for gameplay mechanics. Collaborating with teams to bring characters to life with innovative animation techniques.

Posted 5/7/2026full-timeTroy • New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $80,000 - $120,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Python

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Help define and drive the game’s animation style with expressive, solid body mechanics that makes gameplay feel amazing.
Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes to polished game performances.
Drive in-engine development with excellent engine competency, including animation systems, state machines and other procedural animation techniques.
Collaborate with designers and engineers to explore new ideas, solve tricky gameplay challenges, and push what’s possible through animation.
Document tools and workflows.
Mentor other animators, offering feedback, guidance, and support.
Champion animation across the studio — always pushing for clarity, responsiveness, and that breath of life within every press of a button.
Project Lead role based on project*

Requirements

What you’ll need

7+ years of professional experience animating for games, with a focus on gameplay.
A standout demo reel that shows clear body mechanics, timing, and personality.
Expert in Maya or equivalent 3D animation software.
Hands-on experience working in-engine, with focus on general state machine structures.
Proactive and self-directed, with a good sense of when to explore and when to get things done.
Able to effectively communicate technical needs and issues to Engineering/Tech Art/Design.
Above all, deeply curious and passionate about creating responsive, character forward animation that makes gameplay feel amazing.
Experience leading small animation teams or driving animation direction
Reel should include game or engine captures of your animations in gameplay context.
Familiarity with motion matching, procedural animation, or other modern runtime techniques.
Generalist skills in modeling, rigging, or related areas.
A passion for game design and how animation supports player feedback, pacing, and readability
Experience with motion capture.
Basic scripting or tool-building experience (Python, MEL, or similar) to streamline workflows or prototype ideas.

Benefits

Comp & perks

potential annual bonuses (though they are not guaranteed)
health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
a retirement savings plan
paid holidays
flexible time-off benefits

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

3D animationgameplay animationbody mechanicsstate machinesprocedural animationmotion matchingriggingmodelingscriptingPython

Soft Skills

proactiveself-directedcommunicationmentoringcollaborationcuriositypassionleadershipproblem-solvingfeedback