Gameplay Animator

Ironbird Creations is a development studio based in Krakow, currently working on a fast-paced, combat-oriented and fully funded action-adventure game, Phantom Hellcat.
We are looking for a talented Gameplay Animator to join our team and help bring our characters to life. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of third-person action games, character movement, and combat animation, with a focus on creating fluid, responsive, and visually engaging gameplay experiences.

Responsibilities:

• Create high-quality keyframe animations for third-person characters, including movement, combat, and gameplay interactions
• Design and implement dynamic, responsive combat animations that support fast-paced, melee-focused gameplay
• Create and refine character locomotion, attacks, transitions, and other gameplay-related animations
• Implement, test, and iterate on animations directly in Unity
• Work with existing character rigs and setups to produce animations that meet gameplay and technical requirements
• Ensure animations maintain strong readability, fluidity, and responsiveness during gameplay
• Collaborate closely with Game Designers, Programmers, and other team members to ensure animations support gameplay mechanics and character abilities
• Iterate on animations based on playtesting, feedback, and technical constraints
• Troubleshoot and resolve animation-related issues within the game engine

Our requirements:

• Professional experience as a Gameplay Animator, Character Animator, or in a similar role within the game industry
• Strong experience in keyframe character animation
• Very good knowledge of Blender or Maya; experience with both is a plus
• Proven experience creating gameplay animations for third-person characters
• Strong understanding of character movement, combat animation, and animation principles in action-oriented games
• Hands-on experience implementing, testing, and refining animations in Unity
• Basic understanding of character rigs, skinning, and animation export pipelines for Unity
• Ability to work efficiently with existing character rigs and setups
• Strong understanding of animation readability, fluidity, timing, and responsiveness in the context of gameplay
• Ability to create animations that balance visual quality with gameplay functionality
• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working with Unity Timeline
• Knowledge of Unity Animator Controller, Blend Trees, and Animation Events
• Experience optimizing animations for runtime performance
• Ability to create and refine smooth transitions between different character animation states
• Experience with character rigging
• Experience working on melee-focused action games, slashers, or action-adventure titles
• Understanding of animation state machines and their integration with gameplay systems
• Experience working on a shipped PC or console title
• Passion for action games and a strong sense of character movement, combat feel, and player experience

What's in it for you:
Salary: 9000–13000 PLN DOE
Contract: B2B / Civil Law Contract
Flexible working hours
Remote work – we are open to fully remote candidates (CET time zone ±2h). We also have office space in Krakow if you prefer to work on-site.
Please don’t forget to include the RODO/GDPR clause in your resume :)
Please be advised that we will only contact shortlisted candidates.