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Overview
We are looking for a Senior Animator to join our team in Birmingham, AL on a contract basis.
As a Senior Animator at IronSpark, you will play a key role in bringing characters, narrative moments, and interactive experiences to life. You will collaborate closely with cross-disciplinary teams to translate concepts into high-impact animations that resonate emotionally and deliver on our commitment to intentional design. From early concepting through final polish, your expertise will help ensure our visual storytelling meets the highest creative standards.
This is an in-person contract role operating out of our Birmingham studio with a flexible work environment.
Responsibilities
- Create high-quality, expressive keyframe animations for characters and narrative sequences across interactive media and real-time projects.
- Collaborate daily with directors, designers, and tech artists to maintain visual consistency and meet project goals.
- Draft previzes and prototype animation concepts to explore ideas, solve creative challenges, and refine scene compositions.
- Estimate production timelines for animation deliverables, self-manage workload, and consistently meet established deadlines.
- Actively participate in creative reviews, integrating feedback and refining assets to match project direction.
- Share knowledge, offer technical and creative solutions, and assist in guiding junior team members to help foster regional talent.
Position Details
- Type: Contract (3-month, 6-month, or 12-month options available)
- Schedule: Up to 40 hours per week
- Working Model: In-Person at our Birmingham, AL studio with a flexible daily work environment.
- Compensation: Hourly rate proportionate to individual experience.
Requirements
- 7–10 years of professional animation experience across animation, game development, or interactive media.
- Deep proficiency in Maya and Unreal Engine.
- Strong focus on hand-keyed animation, body mechanics, facial performance, and expressive character movement.
- Impressive portfolio/reel demonstrating senior-level animation skills with a clear breakdown sheet detailing your specific contributions.
- Mastery of animation principles, composition, dynamic posing, and emotional staging.
- Ability to work independently and manage project priorities without constant oversight.
- Excellent communication skills, a team-first attitude, and ease with taking creative direction and critique.
- High standards of professionalism, discretion, and strict confidentiality regarding unreleased client and internal projects.
Benefits
Impact and ownership
- Build from the ground floor: you'll shape processes, tools, and culture from day one
- Direct access to the founders and other Subject Matter Experts
- Your input shapes the product, the process, and company decisions
Growth & Culture
- Wide exposure: you'll work across functions, not in a silo
- You'll learn fast by solving new problems without a playbook
- Low bureaucracy: decisions happen in days, not quarters
- Room to experiment, with a "try it, learn, adjust" mindset
Flexibility
- Flexible hours or schedule
- Remote or hybrid options