Unreal 5 Technical Animator Animation Engineer UFC-style fighting game

Location: Hybrid / Remote Montreal QC Preferred

Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: CTO

Role Overview

Were seeking a seasoned Unreal Animation Engineer to develop and optimize the runtime animation systems for a next-generation UFC-style fighting game built in Unreal Engine 5. Youll own the integration of motion-capture data procedural blending and next-gen animation technology (Motion Matching Control Rig and AI-driven blending).

Youll work closely with combat design animation and physics teams to deliver lifelike responsive and high-impact character motion that defines the moment-to-moment feel of the fight.

Core Responsibilities

Animation Systems Development

• Design implement and maintain character animation frameworks for combat movement and transitions.

• Build and optimize Animation Blueprints Control Rigs and custom AnimGraph nodes.

• Implement AI-driven animation blending (Motion Matching PFNN Neural State Machine).

• Collaborate with animators to integrate mocap data into procedural runtime systems.

• Develop contact-aware IK (hands feet knees grapples) with Chaos Physics integration.

• Extend Unreals Pose Search and Motion Warping systems for hit reactions and combo continuity.

• Prototype and refine animation-driven combat feel ensuring responsiveness and weight.

• Work with the physics and gameplay engineers to synchronize animation with hitboxes collisions and camera events.
  
  

Pipeline & Optimization

• Establish efficient mocap runtime pipelines (retargeting compression tagging).

• Integrate tools for animation debugging (pose visualization contact tracing profiling).

• Profile and optimize animation graphs to meet 60 FPS / 4K console targets.

• Maintain deterministic playback across networked (rollback) fights.

Collaboration & Support

• Partner with Gameplay Engineering to expose animation parameters to combat logic.

• Support Design in defining move lists transitions and animation data structures.

• Liaise with Art & Animation leads to ensure creative fidelity and technical feasibility.

• Contribute to code reviews documentation and mentoring of junior engineers.

Required Qualifications

• 8 years professional experience as an Animation Gameplay or Technical Engineer in Unreal Engine (UE4 / UE5).
  Deep knowledge of Unreal Animation Framework C Blueprint and Control Rig.

• Strong understanding of state machines blend spaces IK solvers and procedural animation.

• Experience with motion-capture data cleanup retargeting and runtime blending.

• Proven track record in real-time character animation for action sports or fighting titles.

• Comfort profiling animation performance using Unreal Insights PIX or RenderDoc.

• Strong math foundation (linear algebra quaternions kinematics).

Preferred / Bonus Skills

• Experience with animation development on combat fighting games.

• Familiarity with AI-driven animation (Motion Matching PFNN Neural State Machines).

• Experience using ONNX Runtime or UE Neural Network Inference Plugin.

• Exposure to physics-driven or ragdoll blending systems (Chaos Physics).

• Experience with MetaHuman rigs or custom deformation systems.

• Proficiency in Python / C# tool scripting for animation pipelines.

• Shipped title experience on PS5 / Xbox Series X / PC.

Success Indicators (First 6-12 Months)

• Combat animation system supports fluid transitions between all major move types.

• AI-driven blending integrated with the gameplay combat loop.

• Foot/hand IK and contact fidelity validated across multiple fighters.

• Performance within 1 ms per-character animation budget on consoles.

• Internal animation toolset and debug visualizers adopted by the team.