CD PROJEKT RED · 1 month ago
Cinematic Animation Lead
Boston, MA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$135K/yr - $206K/yr
8+ years expCD PROJEKT RED is a company dedicated to creating revolutionary, story-driven RPGs. They are seeking a Cinematic Animation Lead to oversee the cinematic animation quality for Cyberpunk 2, leading a team of animators and collaborating across departments to ensure a seamless and emotionally engaging player experience.
ComputerGaming
Responsibilities
Maintain and evolve the cinematic animation vision and strategy together with the Creative Director and Cinematic Director, while collaborating with the Cinematic Design Lead and Gameplay Animation Lead to ensure coherence across storytelling, worldbuilding and performance
Elevate and uphold the cinematic animation quality bar, pushing the seamless connection between gameplay and narrative moments toward an ever more cohesive, emotionally engaging player experience
Evangelize both the creative and technical direction of cinematic animation, ensuring alignment with the project’s overall vision and storytelling goals
Collaborate with the Cinematic Director before and during motion and performance capture sessions to ensure authentic, believable performances aligned with the creative goals of Cyberpunk 2
Review animation in both cinematic and world content scenes regularly, providing clear, actionable feedback to maintain quality, consistency, and emotional impact
Lead, mentor, and inspire the Cinematic Animation team, empowering artists and fostering creative ownership, artistic excellence, and professional growth
Collaborate with production on planning, scheduling, and prioritization to keep the team focused and empowered to deliver their best work
Develop and refine the cinematic animation pipeline in close collaboration with Tech Art, Engineering, Shared Tech, and other key stakeholders to enhance workflows, tools, and cross-discipline efficiency
Foster open cross-team collaboration to ensure every cinematic moment feels grounded, expressive, and true to the world of Cyberpunk 2
Cultivate a collaborative culture where trust, empowerment, and shared creative purpose drive the team forward
Qualification
Required
8+ years of experience across animation and game development, including leadership on a shipped AAA narrative-driven title focused on cinematic storytelling
Deep understanding of performance, storytelling, and cinematography in an interactive medium, with a strong reel demonstrating leadership or hands-on contribution to emotionally powerful cinematic performances
Strong understanding of body mechanics, facial performance, and emotional expression through animation
Demonstrated ability to direct motion capture and performance capture sessions, ensuring authentic, believable performances aligned with creative and technical goals and limitations
Expertise in Unreal Engine and professional experience with Motion Builder or Maya
Experience mentoring and managing teams, with a focus on empowering individuals, fostering ownership, and building an environment of trust and collaboration
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey creative intent clearly across disciplines and collaborate effectively with directors, designers, and engineers
Ability to balance creative ambition with production realities and technical constraints, maintaining quality under pressure
Hands-on experience developing or refining cinematic animation workflows and pipelines, improving tools and processes in collaboration with Tech Art and Engineering
A passion for storytelling and for pushing the boundaries of character performance in games
Previous experience working with outsourced animation teams, co-development partners, or remote contributors
Benefits
Company-paid medical healthcare (dental, vision, and mental).
Free mental health support, including access to counseling, psychiatric care, and a variety of well-being webinars.
Paid leave — 20 days of holiday per year (26 days after two years).
401K with employer matching.
Gym Membership Reimbursement.
Menstrual leave — employees who menstruate can take one extra day off when experiencing period pain.
RED Parents Network — support for working parents, including childcare benefits, and family-friendly events.
Flexible working hours.
Trainings, lectures, and courses — internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available.
A welcome pack filled with goodies — to help you feel right at home once you join the team.
Dog-friendly office — bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There’s always a furry friend or two to meet.
Truly international working environment — a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.
No dress-code — we like to keep it casual.
Company
CD PROJEKT RED
CD PROJEKT RED is a home to well over 800 game-making professionals from all over the globe.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
CD PROJEKT RED has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageRecent News
2026-01-20
2026-01-20
Company data provided by crunchbase