Lead Gameplay Animator

Overview

Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers creating our first original IP: Arkheron. It is a fast-paced, competitive PVP game set in a surreal dark fantasy world where 15 teams of three battle their way up the Tower.

About the role

The Lead Gameplay Animator is accountable for how our game moves and how our animation discipline grows. They inspire and guide the animation discipline, set the creative vision and quality bar for characters and combat in a competitive multiplayer game, lead and mentor a lean animation team, balance leadership with hands-on creation, partner with cross-discipline leads, own combat feel and moment-to-moment gameplay expression, drive production clarity and execution, evolve animation systems and workflows, guide and review external animation partners, contribute to studio-wide hiring, onboarding, and team-building efforts, and foster accountability and self-sufficiency.

Responsibilities

• Inspire and guide the animation discipline, setting the creative vision and quality bar for characters and combat in a competitive multiplayer game.
• Lead and mentor a lean animation team, fostering autonomy, accountability, and growth through clear expectations, constructive feedback, and thoughtful development.
• Balance leadership with hands-on creation, contributing directly to gameplay animation while setting standards and pushing ideas forward independently.
• Partner with cross-discipline leads (design, engineering, art, production) to align animation with gameplay systems, technical realities, and the overall player experience.
• Owning combat feel and moment-to-moment gameplay expression, ensuring characters are readable, responsive, expressive, and impactful.
• Drive production clarity and execution, prioritizing animation goals, pipelines, and team focus while balancing fidelity, performance, and schedule.
• Evolve animation systems and workflows, including thoughtful use of motion capture, keyframe techniques, and external partnerships.
• Guide and review external animation partners, maintaining a high craft bar across both internal and outsourced work.
• Contribute to studio-wide hiring, onboarding, and team-building efforts to grow and strengthen the animation discipline.
• Foster accountability and self-sufficiency, empowering the team to solve problems proactively while maintaining strong collaboration.

Requirements

Proven experience creating high-quality, in-game animations, ideally across multiple shipped titles. Energized by competitive multiplayer combat and understands the critical role animation plays in readability, feel, and fairness. Strong understanding of combat systems and how animation drives responsiveness and player satisfaction. Experience developing animation systems, ideally in new or evolving engines. Comfortable owning features end-to-end, from early exploration through final implementation. Highly skilled at conveying character through gameplay animation, not just cinematics. Push for animation excellence while always putting gameplay quality first. Thrive in tight-knit, highly collaborative teams and communicate clearly across disciplines. Self-directed, adaptable, and able to focus on what matters most for the game right now. Believes great games are built by great teams that put people first. Values trust, openness, humility, curiosity, and enjoys learning alongside others. Has a growth mindset and cares deeply about helping teammates develop.

Qualifications

Experience working in a competitive multiplayer game environment, understanding the trade-offs and challenges involved. Knowledge of animation tools and techniques, including motion capture, keyframe animation, and rigging. Familiarity with game engine architecture and optimization principles. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to work effectively with cross-functional teams. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. Passion for storytelling and immersive experiences.

Skills

• Animation pipeline development and management
• Combat system design and implementation
• Character animation creation and optimization
• Motion capture and keyframe animation techniques
• Game engine integration and optimization
• Team leadership and mentorship

Benefits

Full benefits package, equity, and additional perks to enhance work-life balance.

Pay

$196,500 - $247,133 depending on experience and level.

Schedule

N/A