Principal Cinematics Designer

Job description

We take play seriously. We’re looking for curious adventurers ready to find their party, fueled by imagination and drive to build what’s never been built before. At Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, you’ll collaborate with passionate teams to reimagine our iconic brands and create experiences that spark joy, connection, and community through the magic of play. This is your chance to shape legendary play that lasts a lifetime. **Step Into the Multiverse: Your Next Adventure Starts Here** At Wizards of the Coast, we harness the power of imagination and connection to create unforgettable experiences. We create entertainment that inspires creativity, sparks passion, forges friendships, and fosters communities around the globe. In every pursuit our mission is to inspire a lifetime love of games. Whether it's through the strategic depth of Magic: The Gathering®, the rich storytelling of Dungeons & Dragons®, or our AAA digital game studios, we build worlds that bring people together, spark creativity, and fuel adventure. As we continue to grow and explore new realms, we're seeking passionate, curious, and innovative minds to join the adventure. Skeleton Key is headquartered in Austin, TX, and we’re building out a new, growing studio in Montreal, QC. We’re looking for a passionate and dedicated **Principal Cine Designer** to join the Montreal team and help bring our first AAA game to life. Reporting to the Cinematic Director, you will be responsible for designing and implementing the interactive cinematic experience of the game. This role focuses on translating narrative content into compelling in-engine cinematics through staging, performance, camera work, and gameplay implementation. You will work closely with Narrative, Animation, Audio, Design, and Engineering teams to create cinematic experiences that support branching conversations, reactive storytelling, and seamless movement between gameplay and narrative moments. ### What you'll do: - Design, stage, and implement cinematic sequences using Unreal Engine Sequencer and related cinematic tools. - Translate scripts, narrative beats, and dialogue into interactive cinematic experiences, including branching conversations and reactive narrative moments. - Define and uphold cinematic design standards, workflows, and implementation guidelines across the project. - Block characters, cameras, and action while collaborating with animation teams to deliver believable performances and strong visual storytelling. - Collaborate with Narrative, Animation, Audio, and Design teams to ensure cinematics support story, gameplay, and player experience goals. - Partner with Engineering and production teams to improve cinematic tools, workflows, runtime systems, and development processes. ### What you'll bring: - 8+ years of professional experience in cinematic design, narrative design, level scripting, or a related discipline within game development. - Experience shipping narrative-focused AAA games featuring cinematics, branching dialogue, or storytelling that adapts to player decisions. - Expert knowledge of Unreal Engine Sequencer and cinematic implementation workflows. - Strong understanding of cinematic language, shot composition, pacing, editing, staging, and character performance. - Experience working with performance capture, motion capture, or animation-focused storytelling pipelines. - Familiarity with Unreal Blueprints, visual scripting, or similar runtime implementation tools. - Ability to interpret narrative intent, transform written content into engaging interactive experiences, and coordinate effectively across multiple teams. ### Nice to have: - Experience with Autodesk Maya, MotionBuilder, or other animation-focused tools. - Experience working on RPGs or games featuring complex narratives. - Familiarity with dialogue systems, conversation tools, or cinematic state management. - Experience contributing to cinematic pipeline development during pre-production. At Wizards, we believe in the magic of diversity—great ideas come from unique perspectives. We are committed to building an inclusive, welcoming workplace where everyone belongs. Wizards is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Wizards will provide reasonable accommodations with the application process, upon your request, as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process, please contact your recruiter or coordinator. Employees may be eligible for annual and long-term incentives as part of their overall compensation package, depending on role, location, and eligibility. Benefits and programs may include: - Health & Wellness - Time Off to Recharge - Financial Well-being - Life & Family Support - Volunteer and Community Initiatives - Learning & Development - Exclusive Perks Please review our [Applicant Privacy Notice](https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.hasbro.com%2Fprivacy%2Fjob-applicant&data=05%7C02%7CMaria.Hughes%40wizards.com%7C73f450b2476e4441be3308dec7006d14%7C701edd3ec7a84789b1ce8a243620d68f%7C0%7C0%7C639167001791388387%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=QzsYnPcynaB0OC2yYMSHab2TyW8jOlZQWyr87FBwDt8%3D&reserved=0) to learn how we collect, use, and protect your personal information in connection with the application process.