Summary of the Technical Motion Designer (Contract) job at arenanet

At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 21 million players worldwide.

ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine.

ArenaNet is looking for a Technical Motion Designer (Contract) to join us on Guild Wars 3. In this role, you’ll craft motion systems that enhance usability, communicate feedback, and bring game experiences to life.

As a Technical Motion Designer, you sit at the intersection of Visual Design, Animation, and Tech Art. You understand that clarity and perception are shaped through motion, and that the best interactions aren’t just intuitive, but joyful. You excel at transforming static designs into cohesive, living stories, and reimagining elements and screens as part of a holistic in game experience.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Translate static designs into fully interactive experiences in-game, identifying opportunities where motion can enhance clarity and usability

• Define, build, and maintain scalable motion systems, materials, and toolkits that align with the game’s art direction and can be reused across UI and gameplay systems

• Partner with UI, Tech Art, and Engineering to translate designs into assets within the game engine, building associated materials and animations

• Execute motion with a sense of craft and strong animation fundamentals

• Use storyboards and animatics to communicate interaction concepts and behavior

• Collaborate closely with UI/UX, Tech Art, and VFX to clearly present, iterate, and deliver polished work

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• Bachelor’s degree in Motion Design, Visual Design, Graphic Design, Animation, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

• 4+ years of experience in games, interactive media, or a related field

• Portfolio demonstrating strong motion design, visual design, and UX fundamentals

• Proficiency in tools such as Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, or similar.

• Working knowledge of Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator.

• Working knowledge of Unreal Engine, UMG, Shaders/Materials, and implementation workflows.

• Solid understanding of visual design and UX principles.

• Self-motivated, versatile, and able to operate with confidence and creativity in a highly ambiguous and iterative environment.

This is a 1+ year remote-friendly contract, but we are currently prioritizing candidates who are local to the Bellevue, WA area and open to occasional onsite collaboration.

Pay Range: $42.26 - $61.25

This is an hourly contract role with overtime pay when applicable. While we share the full range for transparency, typical offers fall between the minimum and midpoint.

The role is benefits-eligible through our third-party employer, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and flexible/dependent care accounts.

Applications will be accepted until Monday, November 2nd at 10am PT. If the deadline is extended, the posting will be updated accordingly. If the position is filled before this date, the posting will be removed.

Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.