Senior 3D Animator

Senior 3D Gameplay Animator Hidden Variable Studios is looking to hire a full-time Senior 3D Gameplay Animator with immediate availability. If you're reading this, this could be you!

A little bit about us — we’re a small, experienced team of independent developers in Los Angeles ( read the juicy details here ). Our hit titles — Bag It! , Tic Tactics , Threes! , Skullgirls Mobile , Skullgirls 2nd Encore , and Letter Trek — have all launched to critical acclaim and app store features. In fact, they've been downloaded more than 50 million times to date.

It’s an especially exciting time to join Hidden Variable, as we’re on the cusp of major, exciting updates to our titles and are exploring new, original content as well. Interested in building fun, varied, and innovative games from the ground up? You’ve come to the right place!

At Hidden Variable, we’re looking for wildly talented individuals eager to put their creativity, enthusiasm, and passion to work. It’s that passion that helps us turn the mundane into the incredible and the average into the extraordinary. Come help us continue to make that dream a reality.

About Hidden Variable is looking for a Senior 3D Gameplay Animator to help direct and support animation efforts for an upcoming Fighting Game. As Senior 3D Gameplay Animator, you will collaborate with the Art Director, Lead Combat Designer, and external animation partners to deliver high-quality 3D combat animations that require exacting precision. This role is ideal for someone with a track record of managing smooth, effective outsourcing pipelines to meet high technical requirements.

Your insight, creativity, and attention to detail will directly shape the overall feel and player experience of our game.

This is a hybrid role, combining work-from-home time with in-office time at our brand new headquarters in Pasadena, CA. U.S. work authorization is required. This is intended as a full-time position in our Art Department.

What do we expect from you on a day to day basis? Here are the essential functions of the job:

Own the execution of the combat animations so they meet Fighting Game standards for timing, weight, responsiveness, and frame-count constraints.

Drive quality standards and give clear, actionable feedback to our external animation partners so their work meets Fighting Game requirements.

Partner with the Lead Combat Designer to deliver combat animation that feels satisfying, impactful, and responsive.

Collaborate with Design and Engineering to ensure animations integrate seamlessly with gameplay mechanics, including troubleshooting any issues with implementation.

Iterate and refine gameplay animations, incorporating play testing and stakeholder feedback.

Adapt and improve our animation pipeline, tools, and best practices to facilitate effective scaling as our projects progress.

Coordinate with Production and other leads to scope out animation work, track progress, proactively identify and mitigate project risks, and support timely delivery of milestones.

Create select combat animations when needed, including bug fixes, templates, or examples that illustrate the quality bar.

The ideal candidate will reflect each of these key qualities:

Professional
- You have 5+ years of experience working in animation for games or 2+ years of experience in combat-focused / Fighting Game animation for games, with at least one shipped title. Your portfolio demonstrates strong combat or Fighting Game animations.

Returning Champ
- You have worked on a Fighting Game and can deliver high-quality combat animation within fixed frame-count limits.

Insider
- You understand Fighting Game terminology and can “talk shop” with members of the FGC.

Rigmaster
- You can oversee animation tech…