SKYMAGIC 3D ANIMATOR JOB SPECIFICATION

3D Animator (Blender Specialism) Vacancy

May 2025

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Role Description

Location: Leeds, UK – SKYMAGIC’s Leeds Office, 99 Water Lane, LS11 5QN
Salary: £36,000 – £44,000 (dependent on experience)
Contract: PAYE, Permanent
Start Date: To be negotiated – no later than 15th August
Line Manager: Head of Creative Studio
Direct Reports: Junior Animator, freelance collaborators
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working Pattern: Typically Monday to Friday with flexible start and end times, weekend work will be required during busy project periods
International Scope: This role supports global projects (Europe, Middle East, Asia, USA), so flexibility around time zones is essential
Travel: Occasional onsite attendance at live drone shows as required, some international travel may be necessary

KEY INFORMATION

JOB SPEC

SKYMAGIC is a global leader in drone light shows, with offices across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. From Royal celebrations to global sporting events and iconic brand launches, we deliver some of the world’s most ambitious and high-profile drone shows.

You’ll be joining an award-winning team of creatives, technologists, and storytellers with 20+ years’ experience in the global entertainment industry and UAV swarm technology. Our expertise spans animation, live events, robotics, aeronautical engineering, creative design, and production logistics.

We are looking for a 3D Animator to join our creative studio to design, model, and animate world-class drone show content. You'll collaborate with a global team of designers, animators, and producers to create visually ambitious animations for an exciting roster of international clients. Your creativity, attention to detail, and technical skill will help us push the boundaries of what’s possible in drone light shows.

WHO WE ARE

JOB SPEC

As a key member of our global creative studio, you will be responsible for creating dynamic and engaging drone show scenes. Using your expertise in Blender for modelling and animation, you will work with a suite of bespoke, in-house SKYMAGIC plug-ins to produce world-class drone show content. You will confidently manage multiple briefs, transforming concepts into stunning animations while remaining flexible to changing requirements.

In this fast-paced environment, you will need to be adaptable and ready to collaborate with a tenacious, solution-oriented team. Reporting to the Head of Creative Studio, you will be a collaborator and team-mate to the wider Creative team based both in the UK and Asia. You will also act as a line manager and mentor to the Junior Animator (to be recruited), guiding them as they develop their skills.

Given the nature of our work, which sees a significant increase in projects during peak seasons (particularly Autumn/Winter in the UK), you will be confident in collaborating with freelancers across the globe and provide supportive direction to ensure projects to come into fruition.

WHAT WILL YOU

BE DOING

JOB SPEC

ROLE OVERVIEW

→	Utilising SKYMAGIC bespoke LED plug-ins to design lighting effects.*
→	Liaising with the Production & Pilot teams as required on amendments to timecode and/or adjustments in response to onsite developments.
→	Engaging in the roll-out and trial of new software and innovations - i.e. laser drone trajectory, pyro drone software.*
→	Working with the Creative Associate(s) to support the briefing of Freelance Animators as required.
→	Undertaking the flyable conversion process, ensuring flyable data arrives to site on-time.*
→	Training and delegating to the Junior Animator (to be recruited).
	*training on these elements will be provided to enable you to master SKYMAGIC’s drone-specific plug-ins.

→	Working from 2D visual references, to create 3D designs in Blender for outdoor large-scale shows, indoor shows, and pitch visuals.
→	Demonstrating honed skills in mesh animation, kinematics and rigging.
→	Revising and updating animations in line with the client and internal amendments as they arise and suggesting creative solutions and alternatives where appropriate.
→	Utilising locational information (i.e. google earth) and information provided by the client on terrain, location, staging and/or audience viewpoints to build out location markers and flight-areas in Blender.
→	Plotting audience viewpoints, static cameras, and moving cameras in Blender (i.e. drone camera perspectives), to design and output to multiple angles.
→	Utilising SKYMAGIC bespoke plug-ins to animate safe and flyable drone trajectories. *

JOB SPEC

WHO YOU ARE

ESSENTIAL TO THE ROLE

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced creative environment and is excited to help bring large-scale, cutting-edge projects to life. You should be:

→	Proficient in Blender (this is essential) with experience in modelling, rigging, and animation.
→	Comfortable working flexibly across global time zones and project schedules.
→	Experienced in collaborating across teams, including managing junior talent.
→	A clear communicator, problem-solver, and collaborator under pressure.

BONUS POINTS IF YOU HAVE

These are non-essential skills, and are not directly required for the role. However, we're always keen to hear from people who may have the following:

→	Experience in live events, drone show production, or related fields (e.g., film, gaming, VFX, commercial animation).
→	Familiarity with additional 3D software tools.
→	Basic understanding of Python scripting.
→	Fluency in other languages (we’re a global team!).

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WORKING ENVIRONMENT

OUR OFFICE IN LEEDS

This role is based in SKYMAGIC’s UK office is based in Leeds (Yorkshire). This is an office shared with SKYMAGIC’s sister-company NEWSUBSTANCE. We foster a friendly, creative, and inspiring atmosphere, and regularly host joint socials across both teams.

TRAVEL

On occasion, you may be required to travel internationally – for example to support on signature, or large scale projects. Onsite work typically takes place at night and may include weekends, with standard call days of 10 hours.

JOB SPEC

If this role sounds like a fit for you, please complete the Expression of Interest form here: 3D Animator Application Form

As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short task to demonstrate their animation approach.

Please note: If you do not currently have proficiency in Blender, we kindly ask that you do not apply for this role.

If you have any questions about the process, please reach out to our People & Transformation Lead, Suman Steward on suman@skymagic.show

Application deadline: 10am Wednesday 11th June

APPLICATION PROCESS

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THANK YOU

NOTICE: PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL

All the content of this document (text, figures, lists, financial information, graphics, design, diagrams, as well as other graphic elements and/or audio videos), whichever the format used (paper or electronic), is confidential and proprietary to SKYMAGIC. This document includes ideas and information based on the experience, know-how, intellectual / creative effort of SKYMAGIC. For these reasons, this material shall not be used, reproduced, copied, disclosed, transmitted, transformed, commercialised or communicated, in whole or in part, neither to third parties nor to the public, without the express and written consent of SKYMAGIC.