Principal Gameplay Animator

We are building the next generation of football gaming   We believe football gaming should be as exciting and inclusive as the sport itself. Our vision is to build the world’s most player-centric football game, which empowers a global community to compete, create, and connect. No outdated licenses. No legacy limitations. Just pure football, driven by innovation, culture, and the people who love the game. GOALS is for the kids and the champions. The creators, the grinders, the entertainers. For every moment of skill, every style of play, and every version of you. This is more than just a game; it’s a new standard.  Read more about GOALS here.

Welcome to the animation team We are building a highly responsive, gameplay-driven environment where animation is the heartbeat of the experience. Through the leveraging of cutting-edge multiplayer focused gameplay and animation tech, we intend to push the boundaries of elevated realism and competitive fluidity. We are seeking a Principal Gameplay Animator to be a technical and creative pillar of our team. In this role, you won't just create animations; you will work on the systems and workflows that bring our players to life.

At GOALS, you will... Work closely with the Animation Director and Animation Tech Designer to set and maintain the highest standards of quality and consistency within the confines of gamepay needs and limitations.

Help drive the evolution of our gameplay animation through Motion Matching and similar cutting-edge animation techniques, such as Markerless Motion Capture or Machine Learning, to deliver a highly responsive and grounded multiplayer experience.

Collaborate with designers and programmers to integrate complex animation features that meet the demands of competitive, high-performance gameplay.

Help design and optimize studio-wide workflows, tools, and motion capture strategies to empower the animation team and maximize production efficiency.

Mentor and guide the animation team, fostering a culture of technical excellence and proactive problem-solving through hands-on leadership and regular playtesting.

Ideally, you have... 10+ years of games industry experience with a proven track record of shipping multiple AAA titles in senior or lead gameplay animation roles.

Expert-level technical proficiency in Unreal Engine (Animation Blueprints, state machines) and mastery of industry-standard tools like MotionBuilder and Maya.

Deep expertise in animation principles and elevated realism, specifically applied to complex multiplayer systems or character-driven sports gameplay.

Exceptional communication and self-motivational skills, with the ability to influence decisions across multiple disciplines.

A proactive, problem-solving mindset focused on working with cutting-edge animation systems and technology, with a deep appreciation for the nuances of sports games as a major plus.

About the Employment The position is permanent and you can work from our Stockholm office, hybrid or fully remote from anywhere in Europe. It is important that you are able to communicate unhindered in verbal/written English. For this position, we do not offer relocation assistance. In addition to opportunities for creative impact and professional growth, working at GOALS has many other benefits, like an occupational pension, 25-30 days PTO(depending on country), flexible work hours, and more. Learn more here.   Application For this role, we would like you to include:

LinkedIn profile, CV, or any other document that showcases your experience

A portfolio or reel highlighting your gameplay animation work.

Read more about our recruitment process