Airtight Games is looking for animators to work on a next gen title and help push the envelope in quality of animation in video games.   We are looking for animators who have a strong desire to create animations that tell story and create emotion and empathy between the characters on screen and the audience.

Primary Responsibilities
•    Layout cinematics in Maya and implement those cinematics into the game engine
•    Create animatics for animated sequences
•    Create animation for movie quality cinematics
•    Help review outsourced animation and plug it back into the engine for reviews
•    Work with programmers to implement changes and updated into the cinematics pipeline to make processes more efficient
•    Work closely with the Animation Lead, Cinematics Lead, Art Director, Lead Game Designer, Level Designers, and Environment Layout Artists to implement the highest quality, most efficient cinematics possible.

Other Responsibilities
•    Create animations, animation cycles, lip sync, camera animation, and cut scenes for games and short pre-rendered movies
•    Implement the animation pipeline including facial expression and lip sync
•    Integration of animation into the UE3 engine

Qualifications
•    Minimum 3 years production experience or degree equivalent
•    Strong understanding of cinematic and visual storytelling principles is essential
•    An understanding of the fundamental principles of animation is essential
•    Technical Prowess and ability to troubleshoot technical issues in game engine is essential
•    Strong understanding of UE3 and the cinematics process therein is highly desirable
•    Understanding of Maya animation tools; rigging tools, dependency graphs, motion graphs, expression editor and other Maya tools are desirable.
•    Highly desirable to have a strong understanding of the entire process of modeling for animation, building effective rigs for games, and integrating animation into the game including blending systems for discreet 3rd person and AI animations.
•    Be a strong collaborator with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of project staff
•    Looking for strong self motivated person who is a go getter type personality
•    Familiarity with MEL scripting a plus
•    Secondary skills and experience are also highly desirable. These would include strong skills in any of the following areas:  modeling, texturing, storyboarding, and character rigging
•    Secondary knowledge of other production software a plus (XSI, Zbrush, Photoshop, etc).

Must be a US citizen or have permanent residency 

http://www.airtightgames.com/