Cinematic Director – Art Center

About Snail Games USA

Snail Games strives to create the new high bar for gameplay experience in online gaming. We have been a global developer and publisher of digital entertainment since 2009 and are committed to pushing the boundaries of the industry.

About The Role

We are seeking a Cinematic Director to define and elevate real-time cinematic storytelling across multiple Unreal Engine projects. This role operates within the Art Center as a cross-project domain authority responsible for shaping cinematic standards, guiding mocap-driven execution, and delivering high-impact narrative sequences.

This is not a project-embedded production role. You will work across teams to evaluate cinematic execution, identify weaknesses, propose solutions, establish scalable workflows, and step in hands-on when critical execution is required. You will collaborate closely with design, engineering, and external mocap partners to shape compelling in-game storytelling experiences.

You are also expected to actively explore and leverage emerging AI-assisted production tools to accelerate previs, editorial iteration, and concept validation. This includes using AI to rapidly prototype narrative ideas, test visual approaches, and improve pipeline efficiency where appropriate. AI is viewed as a production accelerator, not a replacement for craft.

Job Type: Full-Time

Location: Remote – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming (Los Angeles area preferred for collaboration; travel required for motion capture shoots and key production milestones at external locations)

Responsibilities

• Define and elevate real-time cinematic standards across multiple Unreal Engine projects
• Lead in-engine cinematic execution using Unreal Sequencer
• Direct motion capture shoots in collaboration with external mocap studios and internal teams
• Translate narrative goals into compelling shot composition, pacing, and emotional beats
• Independently edit and finalize cinematic sequences end-to-end
• Monitor cross-project cinematic health and proactively identify risks or workflow inefficiencies
• Develop clear solution proposals before escalation to senior leadership
• Establish scalable pipelines for integrating mocap performances into Unreal
• Provide direct, constructive feedback to distributed teams (US, Poland, Suzhou)
• Step in hands-on during high-priority or high-risk moments to stabilize execution
• Operate with delegated authority from the Senior Director of Art within the cinematic domain
• Comfort experimenting with AI-assisted production tools to optimize creative workflows and validate concepts quickly
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Proven experience directing or leading real-time cinematics within Unreal Engine
• Strong proficiency with Unreal Engine (UE4 or UE5), including Sequencer
• Demonstrated ability to edit narrative sequences with strong pacing and emotional clarity
• Experience working with motion capture performance integration
• Ability to operate independently and propose actionable solutions to ambiguous problems
• Comfort providing cross-team feedback and influencing without relying on large reporting structures
• Strong organizational skills for planning shoots, timelines, and execution phases
• Unreal Engine Experience: Proficiency with Unreal Engine, preferably UE4 or UE5
  
  

Nice to Have

• Experience building cinematic pipelines from early-stage foundations
• Experience collaborating with distributed or international teams
• Familiarity with virtual production workflows
• Background in both game cinematics and interactive narrative experiences
• Experience integrating cinematics into gameplay systems
• Experience leveraging AI tools for previs, narrative prototyping, or editorial acceleration
  
  

Salary Range: $125,000 – $180,000 Annually

Why Join the Snail Games USA Team?

• True focus on work/life balance
• Paid company holidays, vacation, and separate sick leave
• Medical, dental, vision, and Life/LTD
• 401k with company match