Principal Animator (Apex Legends)

Job Description

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

Job Title: Principal Animator (Apex Legends)

Location: Vancouver, BC, Los Angeles, CA or Madison WI

Work Model: Hybrid

Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world's leading live service franchises.

Our Apex team is looking for an experienced Principal Animator who will embrace our philosophy and leverage their expertise to help define the future of animation and player experiences at Respawn. We're picturing someone who will elevate the quality bar across the project, help shape animation direction and pipelines, and create memorable gameplay experiences through exceptional character performance and animation expertise. This is a highly influential individual contributor role that combines world-class animation expertise with cross-discipline leadership. If this sounds like you, we're looking forward to seeing your resume!

What you'll do…

- Reporting to the Animation Director, you will create high-quality animations and help define animation direction across a variety of gameplay and character experiences.

- Serve as a subject matter expert for animation, helping establish best practices, workflows, and animation standards across the project.

- Partner with Animation Leadership to help define the long-term vision for animation quality, pipelines, technologies, gameplay readability, and character performance.

- Implement animations into the project's engine with full ownership of your work, while helping improve implementation workflows, tools, and animation systems.

- Collaborate closely with Design, Tech Animation, Engineering, and other disciplines to solve complex gameplay and production challenges.

- Influence animation direction through mentorship, communication, collaboration, and advocacy for both player experience and animation quality.

- Identify risks and opportunities early, proactively proposing solutions that improve animation quality, production efficiency, and team effectiveness.

- Take animation features and experiences from conceptualization to shipping with minimal direction, driving both creative and technical execution.

Ideally, you will have…

- 10+ years of professional game development experience shipping multiple AAA titles, including experience in a senior, lead, or principal-level animation role.

- Expert-level character animation experience with a strong understanding of body mechanics, performance, timing, and movement across a variety of character types and gameplay experiences.

- Expert knowledge of Maya with extensive experience modifying and enhancing Motion Capture data for gameplay-focused animation.

- Strong experience integrating animations into game engines and working within modern animation state machines, blend systems, and gameplay pipelines.

- Proven experience working closely with Designers, Tech Animators, and Engineers to create compelling gameplay experiences.

- Demonstrated ability to mentor other animators and elevate the overall quality and effectiveness of a team.

- Strong understanding of animation systems, production challenges, and scalable content creation practices with a passion for pushing the boundaries of gameplay animation and creating exceptional player experiences.

Pay Transparency - North America

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

* British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$133,500 - $186,400 CAD

* California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$153,700 - $233,600 USD

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

About Electronic Arts

We're proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-mk1my2-216-73-216-37-42 in your application.