About the Project Cactus Punch is a game development studio working on an original PC Dark Fantasy Action RPG built with Unreal Engine 5.7.
We are looking for a Technical Animator to help build and maintain the technical side of the animation pipeline and ensure high-quality integration of character animation with gameplay systems. Responsibilities * Develop and maintain animation systems in Unreal Engine 5.7. * Work with Animation Blueprints, State Machines, Blend Spaces, and Animation Montages. * Set up and maintain IK, IK Rig / IK Retargeter, and Control Rig. * Handle animation retargeting and integration for characters and creatures. * Develop and maintain locomotion systems. * Integrate combat animations with gameplay systems. * Set up animation logic and collaborate closely with Gameplay Programmers. * Work with character rigs, skinning, and deformation. * Troubleshoot and optimize animation systems for real-time performance. * Develop and maintain tools and workflows supporting the Animation and Character Art teams. * Establish and maintain technical animation standards and best practices. * Collaborate with Character Artists, Animators, Game Designers, and Programmers.
Requirements * Commercial experience as a Technical Animator, Technical Artist, Rigger, or in a similar role in GameDev. * Strong practical experience with Unreal Engine 5. * Solid knowledge of Animation Blueprints, State Machines, Blend Spaces, and Animation Montages. * Hands-on experience with IK Rig / IK Retargeter and Control Rig. * Strong understanding of character animation principles and animation pipelines. * Experience with locomotion and/or combat animation systems. * Good understanding of rigging, skinning, and character deformation. * Experience integrating animation systems with gameplay. * Ability to independently identify and solve technical issues within an animation pipeline. * Experience collaborating with programmers and other technical specialists. * Good understanding of game production workflows. * English sufficient for technical documentation and team communication.
Would Be a Plus * Experience working on PC or console games. * Experience with Action RPG, Soulslike, Action, or other combat-focused projects. * Experience with Motion Matching, Distance Matching, Pose Warping, or Motion Warping. * Experience with MetaHuman. * Python, MEL, or other scripting experience for animation pipeline automation. * Experience with cloth and/or physics-based animation. * Understanding of Gameplay Ability System (GAS). * Experience optimizing animation systems for real-time performance. * Experience working on a shipped PC or console game.
What We Offer * The opportunity to work on an original PC Dark Fantasy Action RPG built with Unreal Engine 5.7. * A chance to directly influence the animation pipeline and technical quality of the project. * A high level of ownership and autonomy. * Close collaboration with Game Design, Programming, Art, and Animation specialists. * Long-term cooperation and professional growth together with the project.
