Principal Technical Artist: Animation

ROCKSTAR GAMES UK; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Principal Technical Artist where you'll develop innovative tools and technologies for animation. This exciting role involves collaborating with talented professionals to enhance workflows and solve technical challenges in a dynamic environment. You will support a growing Animation team and contribute to large-scale creative projects that push the boundaries of entertainment. If you are passionate about technology and creativity, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as a Technical Artist or similar role.
• Experience with full production cycles of released games.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support animation tools and pipelines.
• Collaborate with Runtime and Animation teams to advance engine features.
• Create clear documentation for tools and workflows.

Skills

Mentoring experience

UI coding with PySide or PyQt

Knowledge of 3D animation systems

Software engineering concepts

Problem-solving skills

C++ proficiency

In-engine animation systems

Character rigging knowledge

Job description

Principal Technical Artist: Animation

At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences.

Become part of a team working on some of the most rewarding, large-scale creative projects in the entertainment industry, within an inclusive and highly motivated environment where you can learn and collaborate with talented professionals.

Rockstar Games seeks a passionate Principal Technical Artist to join our award-winning development team. This role involves developing new tools and technologies, improving pipelines, and managing complex workflows for the extensive files and assets in our games.

This is a full-time, permanent, in-office position based at Rockstar’s studio in Dundee.

What We Do

1. Create and maintain animation tools and pipelines.
2. Innovate continuously while solving technical challenges.
3. Collaborate with Technical Artists and related departments on tools and pipelines.
4. Support the growing Animation team.

Responsibilities

1. Design, develop, and support animation tools and pipelines in DCC and standalone contexts.
2. Develop automated data processing solutions.
3. Provide feedback through code reviews and mentorship.
4. Collaborate with Runtime and Animation teams to advance engine features.
5. Create clear documentation for tools and workflows.
6. Diagnose and resolve issues affecting animators.

Qualifications

1. 8+ years of experience as a Technical Artist or similar role involving tool development.
2. Experience with full production cycles of released games or long-term projects.

Skills

1. Mentoring experience.
2. Strong understanding of UI coding with PySide or PyQt, including advanced features.
3. Solid knowledge of the math underlying 3D animation systems.
4. Understanding of software engineering concepts and patterns.
5. Excellent problem-solving skills and creative thinking.
6. Experience bringing ideas from conception to implementation.
7. Proficiency in C++.
8. Experience with in-engine animation systems.
9. Knowledge of character rigging and related tools.

Pluses

Please note that these skills are desirable but not required:

1. Experience developing C# desktop applications.
2. Experience with package management and deployment systems like rez or pypi.
3. Professional experience as an Animator in games or VFX.
4. Experience working in multi-platform, multi-project environments.
5. Experience in large, distributed teams across multiple locations.

How to Apply

Submit your CV and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the qualifications. If shortlisted, a Rockstar recruiter will contact you to discuss next steps.

Rockstar is committed to an inclusive work environment and provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process. For more information, contact Human Resources.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities.