📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Product Director - Content & Animation
🔹 Company: Epic Games
🔹 Location: Multiple Locations (US, including CA)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Product Management
🔹 Date Posted: May 28, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: Remote OK
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Defining the product strategy for next-generation content and animation tools focused on character performance and narrative.
- Collaborating with R&D, animation, narrative, and engineering teams to develop and refine experimental prototypes into production-ready toolsets.
- Working closely with content creators to deeply understand their workflows and advocate for user-centric design.
- Driving the product roadmap in alignment with both internal content team needs and broader platform vision.
- Ensuring integration and compatibility with Epic’s existing toolsets and pipelines.
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of character performance and animation workflows.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead the product strategy for next-generation content and animation tools focused on character performance and narrative.
✅ Directly contribute to the crafting of prototype experiences that set a new quality standard and demonstrate the effectiveness of our tools and workflows.
✅ Partner with design, R&D, and creative teams to develop pipelines that support dynamic and high-quality character experiences.
✅ Define success metrics, creative quality standards, and usability benchmarks to guide product development.
✅ Work closely with content creators—animators, writers, technical artists—to deeply understand their workflows and challenges and advocate for creators and user-centric design in the development of innovative content creation tools.
✅ Drive the product roadmap in alignment with both internal content team needs and broader platform vision.
✅ Ensure integration and compatibility with Epic’s existing toolsets and pipelines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Control Rig, Sequencer, MetaHuman).
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of character performance and animation workflows, as well as the ability to work closely with multidisciplinary teams across creative and technical domains.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Computer Science, Game Design, or a related discipline).
Experience: 8+ years of product management experience with a focus on creative tools, character pipelines, or animation systems.
Required Skills:
- Deep understanding of character performance and animation workflows, including facial animation, body motion, voice, and narrative integration.
- Experience shipping content-focused products or tools in games, film, interactive media, or virtual production environments.
- Ability to work closely with multidisciplinary teams across creative and technical domains.
- Strong systems thinker with a user-first mindset and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills with experience in building consensus across diverse stakeholders.
- Familiarity with Unreal Engine’s animation and narrative tools (e.g., MetaHuman, Sequencer, Control Rig).
- Background in technical art, animation direction, or narrative systems design.
- Experience working with emerging creative technologies and rapidly evolving pipelines.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with emerging creative technologies and rapidly evolving pipelines.
- Familiarity with Epic’s existing toolsets and pipelines.
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio showcasing their understanding of character performance and animation workflows will be highly competitive for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $251,441 - $368,779 USD per year (based on California pay transparency information).
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) matching.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Employee stock options.
Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible hours and remote work options available.
ASSUMPTION: The provided salary range is based on California pay transparency information and may vary depending on the candidate's location and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company and provider of 3D engine technology, operating Fortnite and developing Unreal Engine.
Company Size: Epic Games has 1,001-5,000 employees globally, with offices in multiple locations across the US and internationally.
Founded: 1991
Company Description:
- Epic Games operates Fortnite, one of the world’s largest games with over 350 million accounts and 2.5 billion friend connections.
- Epic also develops Unreal Engine, which powers the world’s leading games and is adopted across industries such as film and television, architecture, automotive, manufacturing, and simulation.
- Through Unreal Engine, Epic Games Store, and Epic Online Services, Epic provides an end-to-end digital ecosystem for developers and creators to build, distribute, and operate games and other content.
Company Specialties:
- Game Development
- Game Engine
- Publishing
- Unreal Engine
- Real-Time Technology
- Epic Online Services
- Cross-Platform Integration
- Social Networking
- Epic Games Store
- and E-commerce
Company Website: http://www.epicgames.com/
ASSUMPTION: Epic Games is a well-established company with a strong focus on innovation and creativity in the gaming industry.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is at the director level, requiring strategic thinking and leadership skills.
Reporting Structure: The Product Director will report directly to the Vice President of Product Management and work closely with various teams, including R&D, animation, narrative, and engineering.
Work Arrangement: This role is open to multiple locations across the US (including CA) and is remote-friendly.
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow within the Product Management team or explore other leadership roles within Epic Games.
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology and shape the future of character performance and animation tools.
- Chance to collaborate with and learn from industry-leading professionals in various disciplines.
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a substantial impact on Epic Games' products and services.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Epic Games has multiple offices across the US and internationally, with a flexible and collaborative work environment.
Office Location(s): Multiple locations across the US (including CA)
Geographic Context:
- The US offices are located in various cities, offering a range of cultural and recreational opportunities.
- Epic Games' global presence allows for collaboration with teams across different time zones and cultures.
- The company's flexible work arrangements enable employees to balance their personal and professional lives effectively.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and remote work options available.
ASSUMPTION: Epic Games' flexible work arrangements and global presence provide employees with a high degree of flexibility and opportunities for international collaboration.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission.
- Phone or video screen with a member of the HR team.
- Technical assessment or case study presentation.
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and other team members.
- Final interview with the Vice President of Product Management.
Key Assessment Areas:
- Understanding of character performance and animation workflows.
- Product management skills and experience.
- Communication and leadership skills.
- Cultural fit with Epic Games' values and work environment.
Application Tips:
- Highlight your relevant experience and achievements in character performance and animation workflows.
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to emphasize your understanding of the role and how your skills and experience make you a strong fit.
- Prepare a portfolio or case study demonstrating your ability to define product strategy and drive development of innovative content creation tools.
ATS Keywords: Product Management, Character Performance, Animation Workflows, Creative Tools, Technical Art, Narrative Systems Design, Emerging Technologies, Game Development, Film Production, Unreal Engine
ASSUMPTION: Epic Games' hiring process is designed to assess candidates' technical skills, cultural fit, and alignment with the company's values and work environment.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Unreal Engine
- MetaHuman
- Sequencer
- Control Rig
- Jira
- Confluence
- Slack
- Microsoft Office Suite
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with Epic's existing toolsets and pipelines will be beneficial for this role, but not required.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Creative
- Collaborative
- Innovative
- Quality-focused
- Player-centric
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented.
- Flexible and adaptable to change.
- Results-driven and focused on delivering high-quality products.
- Open and transparent communication.
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach defining product strategy for innovative content creation tools?
- Can you describe a time when you worked closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop and refine a product or tool?
- How do you ensure that your products or tools meet the needs of both internal stakeholders and end-users?
ASSUMPTION: Epic Games values candidates who are creative, collaborative, and innovative, with a strong focus on quality and a player-centric approach.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Working with rapidly evolving pipelines and emerging creative technologies may present unique challenges and require adaptability.
- Balancing the needs of internal stakeholders with those of end-users may require strong communication and negotiation skills.
- Managing a remote or hybrid team may present unique leadership challenges.
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment may require strong time management and prioritization skills.
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong communication, adaptability, and a focus on delivering high-quality products.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from other product management positions in its focus on character performance and animation workflows, requiring a deep understanding of these disciplines.
- Epic Games' focus on innovation and creativity sets it apart from other companies in the gaming industry.
- This role offers significant growth potential and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology, making it an attractive choice for experienced product managers looking to make a substantial impact.
ASSUMPTION: This role is well-suited to experienced product managers with a strong background in character performance and animation workflows, looking to drive innovation in the gaming industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a new animation tool that enables creators to quickly and easily bring characters to life with realistic and stylized performances.
- Creating a narrative system that allows writers to easily integrate dialogue and story elements into games and other interactive media.
- Building a prototype experience that demonstrates the effectiveness of new content creation tools and workflows.
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the types of innovative content creation tools and workflows that the Product Director will be responsible for developing and refining.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current state of character performance and animation tools at Epic Games, and how this role will contribute to their evolution?
- How does Epic Games approach collaboration and communication between different teams and disciplines?
- What are the most significant challenges facing the character performance and animation tools at Epic Games, and how can this role help address them?
- How does Epic Games support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help you better understand the role, the team, and the company, enabling you to make an informed decision about your fit and potential for success.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills, emphasizing your understanding of character performance and animation workflows.
- Prepare a portfolio or case study demonstrating your ability to define product strategy and drive development of innovative content creation tools.
- Follow up with the HR team one week after submission to confirm receipt of your application and inquire about next steps.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
