Technical Director, Animation Technology (Remote)

Placements24; London Borough of Newham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote position

Access to cutting-edge tech

Professional development resources

Collaborative virtual team environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Technical Director specializing in Animation Technology to lead tool and pipeline development in a fully remote setting. You will oversee animation tech, optimize workflows, and drive innovative solutions across Maya, Houdini, and Blender.

With 7+ years in technical direction or pipeline work for animation or VFX, you will mentor junior staff, collaborate across disciplines, and stay ahead of real-time rendering and graphics advancements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in technical direction or pipeline development for animation or VFX.
• Strong scripting skills in Python, MEL, or C++.
• Proficiency with Maya, Houdini, or Blender.
• Solid understanding of animation principles, rigging and character setup.
• Experience with real-time rendering tech and game engines is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with remote-team collaboration experience.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities, proactively solving challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of animation tools and pipelines.
• Optimize existing workflows for efficiency, performance, and stability.
• Collaborate with animators, artists, and engineers to understand technical needs and challenges.
• Develop custom scripts and plugins for animation software (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Blender).
• Research and integrate new technologies and software solutions.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and provide solutions to the animation team.
• Document technical processes, tools, and workflows.
• Ensure the technical quality and feasibility of animation projects.
• Stay current with advancements in animation technology and computer graphics.
• Mentor junior technical staff and contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.

Skills

Python

MEL scripting

C++

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/CG

Tools

Autodesk Maya

Houdini

Blender

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading innovator in digital media and animation, is seeking a highly skilled Technical Director specializing in Animation Technology. This is a fully remote position, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of animation tools and pipelines from anywhere. You will be responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of our animation production, developing and optimizing tools, and ensuring the efficient integration of cutting-edge technologies. We are looking for a problem-solver with a deep understanding of animation software, scripting, and pipeline development. The ideal candidate thrives in a remote-first, collaborative environment, possesses excellent analytical and communication skills, and has a passion for advancing animation workflows. Your expertise will be critical in enhancing our artists' capabilities, improving production efficiency, and driving innovation in animated content creation. This is an exceptional chance to make a significant technical contribution to groundbreaking projects and grow your career in a dynamic, remote setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of animation tools and pipelines.
• Optimize existing workflows for efficiency, performance, and stability.
• Collaborate with animators, artists, and engineers to understand technical needs and challenges.
• Develop custom scripts and plugins for animation software (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Blender).
• Research and integrate new technologies and software solutions.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and provide solutions to the animation team.
• Document technical processes, tools, and workflows.
• Ensure the technical quality and feasibility of animation projects.
• Stay current with advancements in animation technology and computer graphics.
• Mentor junior technical staff and contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in technical direction or pipeline development for animation or VFX.
• Expertise in scripting languages such as Python, MEL, or C++.
• Proficiency with animation software like Autodesk Maya, Houdini, or Blender.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, rigging, and character setup.
• Experience with real-time rendering technologies and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working effectively in remote teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks effectively.
• A proactive approach to identifying and solving technical challenges.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Fully remote position offering unparalleled flexibility.
• Opportunity to work on innovative and visually stunning projects.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and professional development resources.A collaborative and supportive virtual team environment.
• Contribute to the advancement of animation technology.