Rigging Supervisor

Netflix Animation Studios; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Netflix Animation Studios in Sydney seeks a Rigging Supervisor to lead the rigging team on a feature film, overseeing creation and maintenance of high-quality rigs for characters, creatures, props, and vehicles. You will ensure rigs are animator-friendly, robust, and well integrated into the studio pipeline, aligned with heads of characters and assets, and production standards.

The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration with modeling, technical, and production teams, plus mentoring rigging

Qualifications

• 5+ years of rigging or related tech on feature films or animated features.
• Proven expertise in rigging with Maya, building complex character/creature rigs.
• Experience with Python and Maya API (PyQt a plus).
• Strong understanding of anatomy, deformation, and animator-focused control design.
• Proven leadership and collaboration across departments.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the development of rigs for characters, creatures, props, and vehicles supporting animation style and performance goals.
• Collaborate with Animation, Modeling, CFX, and Crowd leadership to ensure rigs enable expressive, efficient, and reliable motion.
• Review rigs and provide clear feedback on control design, deformation quality, and animator usability.
• Help define and refine rigging workflows, tools, validators, and naming standards.
• Partner with Modeling Supervisors to ensure topology and asset organization support clean deformation and rig integration.
• Troubleshoot rigging issues and develop scalable, production-friendly solutions with TDs and R&D.
• Provide input to Production Management on rigging complexity and progress for planning.
• Mentor and support rigging artists/TDs, onboarding new members and guiding performance feedback.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative team culture allowing artists to do their best work.

Skills

Rigging supervision

Maya rigging

Python scripting

Animation pipeline

Leadership & mentoring

Tools

Maya

PyQt

Maya API

Job description

Netflix Animation Studios is on a mission to entertain the world with bold, immersive animated films that are timeless and impactful. We are paving the way for the future of animation by building a community of amazing artists and talent across three vibrant locations globally. Come join us!

Job Summary

We are seeking a Rigging Supervisor to support our upcoming feature film. The Rigging Supervisor works inside of NAS to lead the rigging team on a specific film or series, overseeing the creation and maintenance of high-quality rigs for characters, creatures, props, and vehicles.

This role ensures that rigs are animator‑friendly, technically robust, and well integrated into the studio pipeline, working within the direction and standards set by the Head of Characters, Head of Assets, and show Technical Supervisor.

What You’ll Do

• - Supervise the development of rigs for characters, creatures, props, and vehicles that support the show’s animation style and performance goals.
• - Collaborate with Animation, Modeling, CFX, and Crowd leadership to understand requirements and ensure rigs enable expressive, efficient, and reliable motion.
• - Review rigs and provide clear, specific, and constructive feedback on control design, deformation quality, and animator usability.
• - Work with Technical Supervisors, Asset TDs, and Production Technology to help define and refine rigging workflows, tools, validators, and naming standards.
• - Partner with Modeling Supervisors to ensure topology, structure, and asset organization support clean deformation and rig integration.
• - Troubleshoot complex rigging issues and collaborate with TDs and R&D to develop scalable, production‑friendly solutions.
• - Provide input to Production Management and department leadership on rigging complexity and progress to support realistic planning and prioritization.
• - Mentor and support rigging artists/TDs, helping to onboard new team members, identify training needs, and contribute to performance feedback and career development.
• - Help foster a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative team culture where artists can do their best work.

What You’ll Need

• - 5+ years’ experience in rigging or related technical fields on feature films, high‑end TV, and/or animated features, including time in a senior, lead, or supervisory role.
• - Production‑proven expertise in rigging with Maya, including experience building complex character and creature rigs.
• - Strong tools development experience using Python and the Maya API (experience with PyQt and internal APIs a plus).
• - Deep understanding of anatomy, deformation, kinematics, and animator‑focused control design.
• - Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to give clear, constructive feedback and collaborate effectively across departments.
• - Strong organizational and problem‑solving skills.

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.