Senior UI Animator

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI Animator
Company: Aristocrat Gaming
Location: Gdańsk, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Game Development Operations / Creative Operations
Date Posted: 2025-07-28T00:00:00
Experience Level: Mid-Senior (2-5 years)
Remote Status: TELECOMMUTE (with a focus on Poland)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual dynamism and user engagement of innovative game titles through expert UI animation and motion design.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including UI/UX designers, game artists, and developers to translate static concepts into fluid, interactive animations.
• Implement and optimize 2D animations directly within the Unity game engine, ensuring seamless integration and high performance across various platforms.
• Explore and leverage cutting-edge technologies, including generative AI tools, to enhance creative workflows and accelerate motion concepting.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior UI Animator," the experience requirement of "2+ years" suggests a Mid-Senior level. The role is positioned within Aristocrat Gaming's "Innovation Lab," indicating a focus on new game development and experimentation, with a strong emphasis on both creative execution and technical implementation within the Unity environment. The mention of "Product Madness" as a parent or associated brand highlights a strong presence in the social casino genre.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Animate a wide range of UI elements, including buttons, menus, transitions, and feedback mechanisms, to enhance clarity, responsiveness, and overall user delight.
• Translate conceptual motion designs and static mockups provided by UI/UX teams into production-ready animations that align with game aesthetics and gameplay flow.
• Work in close partnership with UI/UX designers and game developers to ensure animation consistency, performance optimization, and seamless integration within the Unity game engine.
• Develop engaging animations for 2D characters and environmental elements that support narrative, gameplay mechanics, and enhance the immersive player experience.
• Prototype and iterate on animation concepts using industry-standard tools such as Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, or Spine, ensuring efficient workflow and high-quality output.
• Implement and fine-tune animations directly within Unity using its 2D animation systems, including Timeline and Animator components, to achieve desired visual and interactive effects.
• Collaborate with technical artists to optimize animation assets, ensuring they meet performance targets and are compatible with various target platforms, particularly mobile.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation for motion assets, manage animation libraries, and adhere to established style guides to ensure consistency across all game titles.
• Actively research, experiment with, and prototype the use of generative AI tools for motion concepting, creative ideation, and rapid prototyping of animation sequences.
• Proactively solicit, receive, and incorporate feedback from stakeholders to refine animations, ensuring polished final results that meet project goals and quality standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative animation skills and technical implementation within a game development context. The emphasis on collaboration with UI/UX and developers, along with implementation in Unity, points to a role that bridges art and engineering. The inclusion of "generative AI tools" signifies a forward-thinking approach to creative workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating proficiency in animation principles and practical application in a game development context is paramount. Relevant fields of study could include Digital Art, Animation, Game Design, or Computer Graphics.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience specifically in animating UI elements and 2D assets within the video game industry.
• Proven track record of successfully implementing UI animations within the Unity game engine, showcasing an understanding of its animation systems and best practices.

Required Skills:

• UI Animation Expertise: Demonstrable skill in creating fluid, engaging, and impactful UI animations that enhance user experience and game aesthetics.
• Animation Principles: Strong understanding and practical application of core animation principles, including timing, easing, anticipation, follow-through, and feedback.
• Unity Implementation: Solid experience with implementing UI animations in Unity, including familiarity with its 2D animation system, Timeline, and Animator components.
• Motion Design Aesthetics: An excellent eye for layout, design principles, and motion aesthetics, with the ability to create visually appealing and intuitive animations.
• Animation Software Proficiency: High proficiency in industry-standard animation software such as Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, or Spine.
• Performance Optimization: Understanding of performance constraints and optimization techniques relevant to mobile gaming platforms.
• English Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English for effective collaboration with international teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Technical Art Acumen: Familiarity with technical art concepts, asset optimization, and the ability to prototype and implement animations efficiently.
• Generative AI Tools: Experience or strong interest in exploring and utilizing generative AI tools for motion concepting, creative exploration, and workflow acceleration.
• Unity Scripting/Shaders: Basic familiarity with Unity scripting (e.g., C#) or shader creation can be beneficial for advanced animation implementations.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with UI/UX designers, artists, and developers in a team-oriented environment.
• Problem-Solving: A proactive and analytical approach to problem-solving, particularly in overcoming technical and creative animation challenges.
• Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to animation quality, ensuring polish, consistency, and adherence to design specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2+ years" experience requirement for a "Senior" title suggests that candidates with strong foundational skills and a solid portfolio, even if slightly below the typical senior benchmark, may be considered. The emphasis on "technical art experience" and "generative AI tools" as a strong plus indicates a desire for candidates who are not only skilled animators but also forward-thinking and adaptable to new technologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a range of UI animations, demonstrating proficiency in timing, easing, and interactivity.
• Examples of 2D character or environmental animations that highlight storytelling and motion quality.
• Specific projects demonstrating implementation of animations within the Unity game engine.
• Case studies or examples illustrating the process of translating static designs into animated elements.
• Evidence of optimization techniques applied to animations for performance, especially for mobile platforms.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their animation workflow, from initial concept and prototyping to final implementation and iteration.
• The ability to articulate how they ensure animation consistency and performance within a game development pipeline is crucial.
• Examples of how feedback has been incorporated into animation refinement processes are highly valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role involving UI animation in game development, the portfolio is critical. It should not only display visual quality but also evidence of technical implementation within Unity and an understanding of performance constraints. Demonstrating a structured approach to animation creation and iteration is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UI Animators with 2-5 years of experience in Poland, the estimated salary range is typically between PLN 8,000 to PLN 14,000 gross per month. This can vary based on specific skills, portfolio strength, and the precise scope of responsibilities within Aristocrat Gaming's Innovation Lab.

Benefits:

• Global Company Benefits: As part of Aristocrat Gaming and Product Madness, employees can expect benefits aligned with a global organization, potentially including:
  • Private healthcare package, offering comprehensive medical coverage.
  • Life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security.
  • Opportunities for professional development, training, and attending industry conferences.
  • Access to employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.
  • Potential for performance-based bonuses or profit-sharing.
  • Generous paid time off and holiday allowances.
  • Collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While the position is listed as TELECOMMUTE, specific working hours may be flexible to accommodate global team collaboration and project deadlines, with an expectation of responsiveness during core business hours relevant to the Polish team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for skilled creative professionals in Poland, with a premium for specialized game development skills and a senior-level designation. The benefits are inferred from general corporate practices of large, international gaming companies like Aristocrat, recognizing their commitment to employee well-being and growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Gaming (Social Casino and Slot Machine Entertainment)
Company Size: Aristocrat Gaming is a large, global company, with Product Madness (its subsidiary) employing 800 team members across multiple international offices and remote locations. This scale offers stability and resources, while the "Innovation Lab" context suggests a more agile and experimental environment within the larger structure.
Founded: Aristocrat Leisure Limited was founded in 1953, indicating a long-standing history and deep expertise in the gaming industry. Product Madness, a key part of Aristocrat's digital presence, focuses on the social casino genre.

Team Structure:

• The UI Animator will be part of Aristocrat Gaming's Innovation Lab, likely a specialized team focused on developing new game concepts and technologies.
• This team will include UI/UX designers, game artists, other animators, game developers, and potentially technical artists and producers.
• Reporting is likely to a Lead Game Artist, Art Director, or Head of Innovation within the lab.
• Cross-functional collaboration will be a daily occurrence, working closely with designers for concepting and developers for implementation.

Methodology:

• The team will likely employ agile development methodologies, with iterative cycles of design, animation, implementation, and testing.
• A strong emphasis will be placed on data-driven design, using player feedback and analytics to inform animation choices and optimize player engagement.
• Workflow will involve concepting, prototyping, asset creation, in-engine implementation, and performance testing, with a focus on continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://www.aristocratgaming.com/ and https://www.productmadness.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Aristocrat's long history and Product Madness's focus on social casino games provides context for the type of player experience and animation style expected. The "Innovation Lab" suggests a dynamic environment where new ideas are encouraged, and the global presence means collaboration across different cultures and time zones.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior UI Animator, indicating a level beyond entry-level or junior positions. It implies a need for independent work, strong technical skills, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced team members. The focus on an "Innovation Lab" may also offer opportunities for exposure to new game mechanics and technologies.
Reporting Structure: The Senior UI Animator will report into the Art or Design leadership within the Aristocrat Gaming Innovation Lab. They will work closely with UI/UX Designers and Game Developers, forming part of a cross-functional project team.
Operations Impact: The animations created by this role directly impact the player experience, influencing engagement, usability, and overall game appeal. High-quality UI animations contribute to a polished and professional game feel, which is critical for player retention and satisfaction in the competitive social casino market. By optimizing animations, the role also plays a part in ensuring smooth game performance.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced animation techniques, Unity's animation systems, technical art, or explore generative AI applications for animation.
• Leadership Potential: Progress to a Lead UI Animator or Technical Artist role, mentoring junior animators and overseeing animation pipelines.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience in game design, UX principles, and technical art through close collaboration with other disciplines.
• Industry Exposure: Engage with cutting-edge game development tools and methodologies within a leading global gaming company.
• Career Progression: Opportunities to move into other art or design leadership roles within Aristocrat Gaming's broader portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, combined with the "Innovation Lab" setting, suggests a role with significant autonomy and the potential for significant impact. Growth opportunities are likely tied to developing specialized skills within game animation and potentially moving into leadership or more technical roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is listed as TELECOMMUTE, indicating that the primary work location is remote. However, Aristocrat Gaming has offices in Gdańsk, suggesting a potential for hybrid work or occasional in-person collaboration if desired or required for specific team events.
Office Location(s): Aristocrat Gaming has offices in Gdańsk, Poland, along with several other global locations including London, Barcelona, Lviv, and Montreal. This distributed team structure necessitates strong remote collaboration tools and practices.

Workspace Context:

• As a remote role, the selected candidate will be expected to maintain a suitable home office environment conducive to focused creative work and communication.
• The team utilizes digital collaboration tools for communication, project management, and asset sharing, fostering a connected remote culture.
• Opportunities for virtual social interactions and team-building activities can be expected to foster a sense of belonging within the distributed team.

Work Schedule:

• The standard 40-hour work week is anticipated. Flexibility may be available, but employees are expected to be reachable and responsive during core working hours that align with the Polish team and project needs, facilitating seamless collaboration with colleagues in different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" designation is key. While a physical office exists in Gdańsk, the primary expectation is remote work. This requires strong self-discipline, effective remote communication skills, and the ability to manage one's own work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the role.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deeper dive into your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your animation process, and technical skills in Unity and animation software. Expect questions about your approach to timing, easing, and performance optimization.
• Creative/Collaboration Discussion: An interview focusing on your creative philosophy, problem-solving approach, ability to collaborate with designers and developers, and how you handle feedback.
• Final Interview: May involve meeting with a hiring manager or senior team member to discuss company culture, career aspirations, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Relevant Work: Prioritize UI animations, transitions, and 2D character/environment animations used in games.
• Highlight Process: For key projects, briefly explain your role, the tools used, the challenges faced, and how you overcame them. Include before-and-after examples if possible.
• Demonstrate Unity Implementation: If possible, include video examples or interactive demos showing animations working within Unity. Clearly state what aspects of the animation were your responsibility.
• Quantify Impact: If you can, mention how your animations improved user engagement, clarity, or game performance.
• Keep it Concise: Aim for a portfolio that is easy to navigate and showcases your best work efficiently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential animation test or a request to animate a small UI element based on a provided design.
• Practice articulating your animation choices, explaining the reasoning behind your timing, easing, and design decisions.
• Be ready to discuss how you would approach optimizing an animation for mobile performance.
• Prepare to discuss your experience with generative AI tools and how you might integrate them into a workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on demonstrating practical animation skills and technical proficiency within Unity. A well-organized and relevant portfolio is essential, and candidates should be prepared to discuss their creative process and problem-solving methodologies in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe After Effects: For motion graphics and UI animation prototyping.
• Adobe Animate (formerly Flash): Potentially used for more traditional 2D animation workflows.
• Spine: A popular 2D skeletal animation tool widely used in game development for character and UI animation.
• Unity: The primary game engine for implementation. Proficiency with its 2D animation systems (Timeline, Animator) is crucial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, understanding how animations impact player engagement metrics (e.g., conversion rates on buttons, time spent in menus) is beneficial.
• Experience with tools like Unity Analytics or third-party analytics platforms could be a plus for understanding performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role, as it's a creative/technical position within game development, not sales or marketing operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of animation software and seamless integration within Unity are the core technical requirements. Familiarity with Spine is a strong asset given its prevalence in 2D game development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouragement of new ideas and exploration of cutting-edge technologies like generative AI.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork and effective communication across disciplines (design, art, development).
• Quality & Polish: A commitment to delivering high-quality, polished animations that enhance the player experience.
• Adaptability & Feedback: Openness to receiving and acting on feedback to refine work and meet project goals.
• Player Focus: A passion for creating engaging and delightful experiences for players.

Collaboration Style:

• The team fosters a collaborative environment where animators work closely with UI/UX designers to bring their visions to life and with developers to ensure smooth technical implementation.
• Regular feedback sessions and iterative development cycles are common, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and shared ownership.
• As a remote team, strong digital communication practices and proactive engagement are essential for effective collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values align with a creative and collaborative team environment, emphasizing innovation and player satisfaction. This suggests a culture that encourages proactive contribution and a shared commitment to quality.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Technical Constraints: Effectively translating artistic vision into animations that are performant and technically feasible within Unity for mobile platforms.
• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication and collaboration with globally distributed team members across different time zones.
• Rapid Iteration: Adapting quickly to feedback and iterating on animations to meet evolving project requirements.
• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously learning and experimenting with new animation tools and techniques, including generative AI.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to training resources and opportunities to deepen expertise in Unity's animation systems, technical art, and advanced animation software.
• Industry Exposure: Participation in industry events, webinars, and access to internal knowledge-sharing sessions to stay current with trends.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from and collaborate with experienced artists and developers within Aristocrat Gaming.
• Exploration of New Technologies: Being at the forefront of integrating generative AI into creative workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for roles in innovative tech companies, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to learning. The growth opportunities are significant, offering paths for specialization and advancement within the gaming industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio, highlighting 2-3 key projects. Explain your role, the animation process, the tools used, and the impact of your work.
• Animation Principles: Discuss your understanding of timing, easing, anticipation, and how you apply these to create engaging UI animations.
• Unity Implementation: Describe your experience implementing animations in Unity. What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
• Problem-Solving: Be ready to discuss a complex animation challenge you faced and how you solved it.
• Collaboration & Feedback: How do you approach collaborating with designers and developers? How do you handle constructive criticism on your work?
• Generative AI: How do you see generative AI impacting the field of UI animation? Have you experimented with any tools, and if so, what were your findings?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research Aristocrat Gaming and Product Madness: Understand their core games, target audience, and company mission ("bringing joy to life through the power of play").
• Prepare questions about the team structure, the Innovation Lab's current projects, and the company's approach to innovation and employee development.
• Consider how your personal values and work style align with the company's "People First" principle and inclusive culture.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Video Demonstrations: Use high-quality video recordings of your animations to showcase them effectively.
• Context is Key: For each piece, briefly explain the goal of the animation, the problem it solved, and your specific contribution.
• Technical Details: If relevant, mention the software and techniques used, especially your Unity implementation.
• Showcase Range: Include examples of different types of UI animations (transitions, feedback, character elements) to demonstrate versatility.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing both creative artistry and technical execution within Unity. Articulating your thought process, problem-solving skills, and collaborative approach will be as important as the visual quality of your work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UI Animator position:

• Visit the Aristocrat Gaming External Careers Site and locate the role.
• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio containing relevant UI and 2D game animation work.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio highlights UI animations, Unity implementation examples, and any experience with generative AI tools. Tailor any accompanying cover letter to specifically address the requirements of this role within the Innovation Lab.
• Resume Optimization: Quantify achievements where possible. Use keywords from the job description like "UI Animation," "Unity," "After Effects," "2D Animation," "Prototyping," and "Generative AI."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your animation process, discussing your portfolio projects, and preparing answers to common interview questions related to animation principles, technical implementation, and collaboration.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Aristocrat Gaming and Product Madness, focusing on their game portfolio and company culture to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.