Lead Animation Technical Artist

The role

This person will lead technical R&D and quality breakthroughs for a dual-perspective shooting game's runtime animation system. They will design core solutions for aiming, weapon handling, and procedural animation while leading and mentoring an animation TA team.

What you will do

• Responsible for technical R&D and quality breakthroughs of the runtime animation system.
• Design, validate, and implement core solutions for aiming, weapon handling, procedural animation, animation graphs, and state orchestration.
• Identify and resolve animation quality issues across assets, engine, gameplay, and runtime.
• Hold decision-making authority for the project's animation technical approach.
• Establish animation technical specifications, review standards, and problem-diagnosis methods.
• Drive stable mass production and continuous iteration of solutions.
• Collaborate with animation, programming, and game design teams.
• Lead and mentor the animation TA team through matrix management.
• Set team technical standards and provide coaching on complex issues.

Required qualifications

• Many years of experience in game animation and animation TA R&D.
• Worked on top-tier high-quality realistic PvP shooter products.
• Deep understanding of the feel and runtime performance of dual-perspective shooting games.
• Ability to independently take ownership of the design, R&D, and closed-loop delivery of core systems.
• Complete game development pipeline experience.
• Matrix-style technical leadership capability.
• Familiar with the runtime animation architecture of at least one mainstream or proprietary engine.
• Able to solve animation R&D problems using DCC tools, scripting, and toolchains.

Nice to have

• Experience in runtime animation development for Call of Duty PvP or equivalent-level shooting projects
• Experience with multiple engines
• Experience in high-quality action game development
• International project collaboration
• Ability to balance quality, performance, and maintainability in multi-character, multi-state, high-concurrency multiplayer scenarios
• Ability to use AI/Agents for animation data processing, R&D assistance, tool automation, problem analysis, or workflow efficiency improvements

About the company

NetEase is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity in its workforce.