Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist

Placements24; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Animator and Rigging Specialist to join a Queenstown-based studio. You will design and maintain sophisticated character rigs, develop animation systems, and collaborate with peers to ensure fluid, believable character performance in high-profile projects.

You should bring a strong portfolio, deep rigging knowledge, and scripting skills (Python/MEL) to automate tools, with proficiency in Maya and familiarity with major game engines.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in character rigging and technical animation for games or film.
• Strong portfolio of complex rigs, facial systems, and technical animation.
• Proficiency in Maya and rigging fundamentals (kinematics, joints, constraints).
• Experience with Python or MEL for tool development and automation.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in related field.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain complex character rigs for humanoids, creatures, and props.
• Develop and implement advanced rigging techniques, including facial rigging, muscle simulation, and cloth simulation integration.
• Create and refine animation tools and scripts to improve workflow efficiency for animators.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet their technical and artistic needs for animation production.
• Work closely with game designers and engineers to integrate animation systems into the game engine.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character rigs and animation playback.
• Optimize rigs and animation data for performance and memory constraints.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in rigging, animation technology, and game engines.
• Mentor junior technical animators and riggers, providing guidance and support.
• Contribute to the overall quality and believability of character performance within the game.

Skills

Rigging and technical animation

Portfolio development

Scripting for automation

Collaboration and communication

Problem-solving

Anatomy/biomechanics understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation, Fine Arts, or related field

Tools

Maya

Python

MEL

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading developer of visually rich interactive experiences, is seeking a Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist to join their team in Queenstown, Eastern Cape . This role is crucial for bringing characters and objects to life with believable motion and complex deformities. You will be responsible for creating sophisticated character rigs, developing animation systems, and collaborating closely with animators and game designers to ensure fluid and responsive character performance. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of human and creature anatomy, advanced rigging techniques, and scripting for automation. Join a studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of animation and player interaction in the Arts & Entertainment sector of Queenstown, Eastern Cape .

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain complex character rigs for humanoids, creatures, and props.
• Develop and implement advanced rigging techniques, including facial rigging, muscle simulation, and cloth simulation integration.
• Create and refine animation tools and scripts to improve workflow efficiency for animators.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet their technical and artistic needs for animation production.
• Work closely with game designers and engineers to integrate animation systems into the game engine.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character rigs and animation playback.
• Optimize rigs and animation data for performance and memory constraints.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in rigging, animation technology, and game engines.
• Mentor junior technical animators and riggers, providing guidance and support.
• Contribute to the overall quality and believability of character performance within the game.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in character rigging and technical animation for video games or feature film.
• Strong portfolio showcasing complex character rigs, facial systems, and technical animation examples.
• Proficiency in 3D animation software such as Maya.
• Expertise in rigging principles, including kinematics, joints, constraints, and deformers.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for tool development and automation.
• Familiarity with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, and principles of motion.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, essential for working within our Queenstown, Eastern Cape studio environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to work on exciting and visually stunning projects. Enjoy a collaborative and creative work environment in Queenstown, Eastern Cape . This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the animation pipeline and contribute significantly to the character performance in high-profile game titles.