{"id":3910992,"url":"https://alion.io/job/werfnet-game-animator","title":"Game Animator","company":{"id":4497086,"name":"Werfnet","domain":null,"url":"https://alion.io/company/werfnet","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":null,"truth_index":null},"role":"Games","role_family":"Games","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Pretoria, South Africa"],"countries":["ZA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":40000,"max":null,"currency":"ZAR","period":"month","gross":true,"usd_annual":29088},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Adobe Photoshop","optional":false},{"name":"AI Agents","optional":false},{"name":"Blender","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":false},{"name":"Houdini","optional":false},{"name":"Substance 3D Painter","optional":false},{"name":"Unity","optional":false},{"name":"Unreal Engine","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-28T07:01:06Z","employer_posted_date":null,"last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T07:01:06Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":null,"days_open":11,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":11},"description":"Reference: PTA000711-AF -1\n\nPosition: Game Animator / 3D Designer\nIndustry: Gaming / Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Game Development / Research & Development\nLocation: Menlyn Maine, Pretoria, Gauteng\nWorking Arrangement: Fully On-Site\nWorking Hours: Monday–Friday | Standard Office Hours\nSalary: R40,000 per month (market related)\nExperience: Relevant experience in 3D animation, game animation and game development\n\nRole Overview\n\nAn innovative organisation is seeking a creative and technically skilled Game Designer / 3D Animator to join an exciting research and development project exploring how Artificial Intelligence systems, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), establish goals, collaborate, make decisions and work together to achieve specific objectives.\nThis is not a conventional commercial game development role. The primary purpose of the project is to develop a playable game environment that can be used to research and observe how AI systems interact, coordinate, plan and collaborate to achieve goals.\nImportantly, the game must also be enjoyable and playable by human users. The successful candidate will help create the visual world, characters, animations and gameplay elements required to bring this research environment to life.\nThe ideal candidate will combine strong creative ability with practical technical skills in 3D modelling, character animation, game animation workflows and game asset development, particularly using Blender and Houdini.\nWe are looking for someone creative, curious, technically capable and enthusiastic about gaming, animation and emerging AI technologies. The candidate should be comfortable working in a research-driven environment where experimentation, iteration and creative problem-solving are essential.\nDuties & Responsibilities\nKey Responsibilities\n\n1. Game Design & Development\n\nAssist in designing and developing a playable game environment for AI research.\n\nTranslate research concepts and objectives into practical game mechanics.\n\nHelp design game scenarios in which AI agents can pursue goals, make decisions and collaborate.\n\nDevelop gameplay elements that support both AI experimentation and human participation.\n\nContribute ideas for game mechanics, player interactions, challenges and objectives.\n\nDesign environments and interactions that allow AI behaviour to be observed and evaluated.\n\nHelp create engaging and understandable gameplay experiences for human players.\n\nCollaborate with developers to ensure that game assets and mechanics integrate effectively into the game.\n\nParticipate in prototyping, testing, feedback sessions and iterative development.\n\n2. 3D Modelling & Animation\n\nCreate and animate 3D characters, objects and environmental assets.\n\nDevelop high-quality animations suitable for real-time gameplay.\n\nCreate character movement, locomotion, interactions and other gameplay animations.\n\nAnimate characters performing actions such as walking, running, jumping, interacting with objects and responding to their environment.\n\nCreate animations that communicate character actions, intentions and behaviours clearly.\n\nOptimise models, animation rigs and assets for real-time performance.\n\nMaintain consistent visual quality and style throughout the game.\n\nModify and refine animations based on gameplay testing and project requirements.\n\nEnsure animations integrate correctly with the game engine and character controllers.\n\n3. Blender & Houdini\nThe candidate must have practical experience using Blender and Houdini, particularly in relation to 3D animation and game asset production.\nResponsibilities include:\n\nCreate and modify 3D models using Blender.\n\nDevelop character rigs and animation systems where required.\n\nProduce and refine skeletal animations.\n\nCreate animation cycles and reusable animation assets.\n\nUse Houdini for procedural modelling, animation-related workflows and procedural asset generation where appropriate.\n\nDevelop reusable assets and workflows to improve production efficiency.\n\nPrepare and export models, rigs, textures and animations for integration into a game engine.\n\nTroubleshoot asset import, rigging, animation and compatibility issues.\n\nOptimise assets for real-time rendering and gameplay.\n\n4. Character Animation & Gameplay Integration\n\nCreate animations that support the intended gameplay mechanics.\n\nWork with developers to integrate animations into the game.\n\nEnsure animations transition smoothly between different character actions.\n\nSupport animation state machines and animation blending where applicable.\n\nDevelop animations for AI-controlled characters and human-controlled characters.\n\nEnsure character movement and interactions feel natural and responsive.\n\nTest animations within the actual game environment.\n\nIdentify and resolve animation-related issues during gameplay testing.\n\n5. AI Research Environment\nAn important part of the project is understanding how AI systems establish goals, coordinate actions and work collaboratively.\nThe candidate will help create visual and interactive environments that allow these behaviours to be studied.\nResponsibilities include:\n\nDevelop game environments in which AI agents can interact with objects, characters and one another.\n\nCreate scenarios that support goal-oriented behaviour and collaborative tasks.\n\nDesign visual feedback that makes AI actions and interactions understandable.\n\nHelp create environments that can be used for repeatable AI experiments.\n\nWork with AI researchers and software developers to translate research requirements into game features.\n\nSupport testing of AI-controlled characters and their interactions with the environment.\n\nRefine gameplay scenarios based on research findings and development feedback.\n\nEnsure that the environment remains playable and engaging for human users.\n\nPrevious AI research experience is not essential. An interest in artificial intelligence, experimentation and innovative game development will be highly advantageous.\n\n6. Game Engine Integration\n\nImport 3D models and animations into the relevant game engine.\n\nWork with developers to ensure that assets function correctly in the game.\n\nAssist with animation setup, character integration and asset optimisation.\n\nUnderstand the relationship between 3D assets, animation systems and gameplay logic.\n\nTroubleshoot visual and animation-related issues during integration.\n\nMaintain organised asset libraries and project files.\n\nFollow appropriate naming conventions, version-control processes and development workflows.\n\nExperience with Unity or Unreal Engine will be advantageous.\n\n7. Testing, Iteration & Collaboration\n\nTest animations and game assets in the actual gameplay environment.\n\nIdentify visual inconsistencies, animation problems and performance issues.\n\nImplement feedback from developers, researchers and other team members.\n\nParticipate in design discussions and creative brainstorming sessions.\n\nWork collaboratively with technical and creative team members.\n\nManage assigned tasks and meet project milestones.\n\nRemain flexible as the project evolves and new research requirements emerge.\n\nTechnical Skills & Knowledge\n\n3D Modelling & Animation\nStrong practical knowledge of:\n\n3D modelling.\n\nCharacter animation.\n\nRigging and skinning.\n\nSkeletal animation.\n\nAnimation cycles.\n\nCharacter locomotion.\n\nAnimation blending and transitions.\n\nGame-ready asset creation.\n\nUV mapping and texturing.\n\nAsset optimisation.\n\nAnimation export and integration.\n\nReal-time animation workflows.\n\nSoftware & Tools\nPrimary applications:\n\nBlender – 3D modelling, rigging, character animation and asset preparation.\n\nHoudini – procedural workflows, modelling and animation-related production.\n\nAdvantageous additional tools:\n\nUnreal Engine.\n\nUnity.\n\nSubstance 3D Painter.\n\nPhotoshop or similar texturing tools.\n\nGit or other version-control systems.\n\nMotion-capture tools and workflows.\n\nGame Development Knowledge\n\nUnderstanding of real-time game development.\n\nKnowledge of how 3D assets are integrated into games.\n\nUnderstanding of character controllers and animation systems.\n\nFamiliarity with gameplay mechanics and player interaction.\n\nUnderstanding of performance optimisation for real-time environments.\n\nAbility to collaborate effectively with programmers and technical artists.\n\nMinimum Requirements\n\nRelevant experience in 3D animation, game animation or game development.\n\nPractical proficiency in Blender.\n\nPractical experience with Houdini, particularly in procedural workflows or animation-related production.\n\nDemonstrable experience creating and animating 3D assets.\n\nUnderstanding of character rigging, skeletal animation and animation workflows.\n\nAbility to create assets suitable for real-time game environments.\n\nUnderstanding of how animations are exported and integrated into a game engine.\n\nA portfolio or showreel demonstrating relevant animation and 3D work.\n\nStrong creative and problem-solving skills.\n\nAbility to work independently and collaboratively.\n\nWillingness to experiment, test ideas and refine work based on feedback.\n\nGood communication skills.\n\nAbility to work fully on-site in Menlyn Maine, Pretoria.\n\nAdvantageous Qualifications & Experience\n\nA relevant qualification in one or more of the following areas will be advantageous:\n\nGame Design.\n\nGame Development.\n\n3D Animation.\n\nDigital Arts.\n\nMultimedia Design.\n\nComputer Graphics.\n\nAnimation and Visual Effects.\n\nInteractive Media.\n\nTechnical Art.\n\nOr a similar relevant field.\n\nAdditional experience in the following areas will be highly beneficial:\n\nDeveloping games in Unity or Unreal Engine.\n\nCreating animations for interactive environments.\n\nProcedural modelling and asset generation using Houdini.\n\nDeveloping NPCs and AI-controlled characters.\n\nWorking on experimental or research-based game projects.\n\nDesigning environments for simulation or artificial intelligence.\n\nWorking with developers on technically complex creative projects.\n\nA strong portfolio and demonstrable practical skills are important.\nWorking Environment\n\nFully on-site position based in Menlyn Maine, Pretoria.\n\nMonday to Friday, during standard office hours.\n\nCollaborative environment involving game development, animation and AI research.\n\nWork closely with developers, AI engineers and other technical team members.\n\nDevelop and refine game assets, animations and interactive environments.\n\nParticipate in prototyping, testing and improving gameplay experiences.\n\nWork on an innovative project at the intersection of gaming and artificial intelligence.\n\nPackage & Remuneration\nR40 000 - 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