Principal Animator - Gameplay & Scripted Events

About the role

NBCUniversal is hiring a Principal Animator in Montreal to bring characters to life across gameplay systems or narrative-driven experiences. The role covers two specializations: Gameplay Animation Systems (locomotion, interaction, traversal, core gameplay) and Conversations & Scripted Events (facial animation, character acting, performance-driven animation). Candidates are not expected to master both areas; the company looks for strong Principal-level talent in one of them. The animator sets quality standards, mentors colleagues and works closely with design, engineering and animation teams.

Key responsibilities

• Own and drive animation systems or features from concept through final implementation
• Create high-quality gameplay, body and/or facial animations at AAA standards
• Collaborate with animators, designers and gameplay programmers
• Recommend improvements to workflows and pipelines and contribute to planning and structuring animation work
• Mentor team members and take part in animation reviews
• Solve complex artistic and technical animation challenges
• Gameplay focus: develop animation systems for locomotion, traversal, interaction and gameplay mechanics, improve responsiveness and game feel
• Conversations & Scripted Events focus: drive facial animation, character performance and body acting, ensure strong storytelling and emotional clarity

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in 3D character animation for games, with several shipped AAA titles
• Demo reel showing gameplay animation systems or conversations/scripted events and facial/performance animation
• Strong understanding of animation fundamentals (body mechanics, acting, timing, weight, posing, arcs, anticipation, follow-through)
• Experience with motion capture and keyframe animation
• Willingness to work in the Montreal office at least 4 days a week, legal authorization to work in Canada, and willingness to travel for work

Required skills

• Proficiency in Maya, MotionBuilder or equivalent tools
• Understanding of gameplay systems, animation pipelines and cross-disciplinary workflows
• Preferred: first- and third-person gameplay systems, 3C concepts, locomotion, traversal, interaction, multiplayer, blending, animation graphs, root motion and motion matching
• Preferred: facial animation, conversation systems, cinematic sequences, facial rigs, lip sync, gesture systems and facial capture
• Preferred: game engines such as Unreal, various animation styles and character types, rigging workflows