Job Overview
Location
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Job Type
Full-time
Category
Software Engineering
Date Posted
June 19, 2026
Full Job Description
đź“‹ Description
- • Serve as a Technical Animator responsible for creating and implementing high-quality character and prop animations for video games developed by Blackbird Interactive.
- • Collaborate closely with animators, designers, and engineers to integrate animations into the game engine while maintaining performance efficiency and visual fidelity.
- • Develop and maintain animation rigs, skinning systems, and procedural animation systems tailored to the studio’s proprietary and third-party game engines.
- • Optimize animation data for memory usage, load times, and runtime performance across multiple platforms including PC and consoles.
- • Translate motion capture data into usable in-game animations, cleaning and retargeting as needed to match character proportions and gameplay requirements.
- • Create custom animation tools and scripts in Python, C#, or equivalent languages to streamline animation pipelines and improve team productivity.
- • Troubleshoot animation-related bugs and technical issues reported by QA and gameplay teams, providing timely solutions and documentation.
- • Participate in regular production meetings to align animation deliverables with project milestones, design goals, and technical constraints.
- • Maintain and update animation asset libraries, ensuring consistency in naming conventions, file formats, and version control practices.
- • Work within established art direction and technical standards to ensure all animations align with the studio’s visual and gameplay vision.
- • Provide feedback and mentorship to junior animators and technical staff on best practices in animation technology and pipeline efficiency.
- • Adapt animation workflows to support multiple game genres and projects, from narrative-driven experiences to action-oriented titles.
- • Document technical animation processes and share knowledge across departments to improve cross-functional collaboration.
- • Stay current with industry advancements in animation technology, tools, and middleware, recommending upgrades or integrations when beneficial.
- • Ensure all animation assets meet platform-specific certification requirements and submission guidelines.
- • Work within a remote-first environment, maintaining clear and consistent communication with distributed teams across Canada.
- • Adhere to studio policies regarding data security, intellectual property, and project confidentiality.
🎯 Requirements
- • Proven experience as a Technical Animator in the video game industry
- • Proficiency in animation software such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max
- • Strong understanding of game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity, or proprietary engines)
- • Ability to write scripts or tools in Python, C#, or similar languages to automate animation tasks
- • Experience with motion capture data processing and retargeting
- • Deep knowledge of animation rigging, skinning, and inverse kinematics
🏖️ Benefits
- • Remote-first work environment with flexible scheduling
- • Opportunity to work on world-class IPs and original game projects
- • Collaborative, creative studio culture focused on professional growth
- • Contract position offering focused project-based engagement
Skills & Technologies
See exactly how your profile matches this role — strengths, skill gaps, and what to do about them.
About Blackbird Interactive, Inc.
Blackbird Interactive is a Canadian independent game development studio founded in 2010 by former Relic Entertainment veterans. It specializes in real-time strategy, immersive simulation, and interactive media projects, serving as co-developer for major publishers and producing original IP. The studio is best known for titles such as *Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak*, *Hardspace: Shipbreaker*, and the upcoming *Homeworld 3*. With over 300 employees in Vancouver, Blackbird combines AAA production values with agile, creator-led culture, leveraging proprietary technology and cross-disciplinary collaboration to push narrative depth, systemic gameplay, and player agency in both commercial and educational experiences.
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