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CD PROJEKT RED · 21 hours ago

Senior Gameplay Animator (NPC)

Boston, MA

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level

$95K/yr - $174K/yr

5+ years exp

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with a focus on NPCs to join their Boston hub and contribute to the development of Cyberpunk 2. In this role, you will create high-quality player and NPC combat and locomotion animation, collaborating closely with designers to deliver engaging and believable character performances.

ComputerGaming

H1B Sponsor Likely

Responsibilities

Develop high-quality player and NPC animation across a wide range of characters, enemy behaviors, combat and locomotion states, and encounter scenarios

Partner with the Animation Lead and key stakeholders to align animation quality, style, and execution with the project’s aesthetic goals, gameplay pillars, and overall player experience

Collaborate daily within a cross-disciplinary team to define gameplay experiential goals and deliver features from concept through final implementation

Create pre-visualizations and prototypes to assist in communication and development

Create high-quality finished player and NPC animation using a mix of hand-keyed and motion capture to deliver exciting, expressive, and readable character motion

Work hands-on within Unreal Engine to implement, iterate, and validate NPC animation in real-time gameplay contexts, ensuring animations look and feel strong in play

Research, explore and advocate new techniques, systems, and workflows to improve animation quality, efficiency, and support evolving gameplay and previsualization needs

Contribute to motion capture shot lists and provide performance direction when applicable

Provide clear feedback and animation insight during reviews and other collaborations, helping raise quality across NPC gameplay animation

Provide mentorship, inspiration, and support to early-career animators through feedback, collaboration, and example

Qualification

Gameplay animation developmentUnreal Engine3D animation skillsHand-keyed animationMotion captureBody mechanics understandingSelf-managementMentorshipCollaboration

Required

5+ years of professional experience in gameplay animation development with at least 1 title shipped

Professional experience developing animation in Unreal Engine (or an equivalent real-time game engine)

Deep animation fundamentals, including weight, timing, posing, and clarity

Ability to author hand-keyed animation and motion capture into compelling performances

Proficient in 3D animation skills using Maya, MotionBuilder, or equivalent DCC tools

Experience with blending dynamic, hand-keyed moments with captured motion, and enhancing mo-cap for greater appeal without degrading the source

Thorough understanding of body mechanics and physics as they relate to believable character movement and combat

Capability to self-manage, estimate task scope, and make responsible decisions about time and priorities

Preferred

Experience working on open-world or RPG titles

Experience developing NPC combat animation or enemy behavior for Shooter and Action-oriented games

Familiarity with motion matching or advanced NPC movement solutions

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!

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

Glassdoor3.9

CD PROJEKT RED is a home to well over 800 game-making professionals from all over the globe.

Founded in 2002

Warsaw, Mazowieckie, POL

1001-5000 employees

https://en.cdprojektred.com/

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)

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Trends of Total Sponsorships

2025 (1)