Senior Animator

Sledgehammer Games is a leading developer in the video game industry, best known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise. Since our inception in 2009, the studio has delivered iconic titles like including Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Call of Duty: WWII (2017), and, most recently, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.

As industry leaders in first-person shooter development, our commitment to excellence is reflected in every detail of our games, from highly polished multiplayer experiences to emotionally engaging single-player campaigns. At Sledgehammer Games, we believe in pushing boundaries, redefining the possibilities of interactive storytelling, and setting new standards for visual and gameplay fidelity. Together, we aim to deliver world-class gaming content that continues to set the bar for quality, innovation, and player engagement.

We are excited to invite a talented and passionate developer to join our growing team as a Senior Animator based in our Melbourne, Australia studio. In this role, you will work collaboratively with our talented teams across the globe, including our locations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  If you're ready to be part of a dynamic and collaborative environment where your skills can make a real impact, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us.

To learn more about our studio, please visit us at 

Your Mission

As a Senior Animator, located in Melbourne, Australia; you will become part of a tight-knit team that prides itself on creating in-game and cinematic animations that are complex and believable. Working with the department lead, you will receive shot assignments or animation tasks that contribute to furthering understanding of character and/or action and advance the emotional and gameplay goals of the project. Completing your work will require you to build relationships with many production disciplines, such as Design, Engineering, and Environment, as you all collaborate to achieve the best visual and narrative results for each game.

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Use a combination of Motion Capture editing and Key Framing to craft game motions that will create 1st person gameplay mechanics, in-game cinematics, viewmodel/weapon animations or 3rd person vignettes.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of camera animation and cinematic framing, as well as shot continuity and facial animation.

• Respond well to feedback and be willing to iterate multiple times to achieve the polish level we need to deliver AAA titles.

• Troubleshoot tool implementations and spearhead workflow improvements in order to increase the efficiency and creativity of the team.

• Work with production to advise on performance concerns, assess scope and mitigate project risks.

• Utilizing a wealth of experience to act creatively and independently; requiring little instruction.

Player Profile

Minimum Requirements:

• Strong professional animation experience

• In depth experience specifically as a game animator

• Knowledge of Cinematic and Motion Capture Editing and cleanup

• Strong animation fundamentals with a focus on human movement

• Ability to adapt to new tools and tech

• Expert animating in the Maya environment

• Strong problem-solving skills and clear communication both technically and across-departments

• Ability to mentor Junior Animators and leads by example

• Ability to think philosophically about character movement

Extra Points:

• An understanding of character creation (modeling, texturing, and rigging) is a bonus.

• An interest in participating in live previs shoots to help clarify tone, choreography, and pacing for mocap actors.

Our World  

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We're driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and Guitar Hero. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our "press start" is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.  

We're not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we're forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.   

We're in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.   

Sledgehammer Games is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.