Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist

Placements24; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive health benefits

Professional development

Creative, collaborative work culture

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist to lead rigging for humanoids, creatures, and props in a Queenstown project. You will craft sophisticated rigs, facial systems, and animation tools, collaborating with animators, designers, and engineers to deliver high-quality character performances.

Ideal candidates bring deep anatomy knowledge, strong scripting skills (Python/MEL), and a track record with Maya and modern game engines, while mentoring junior team members and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in character rigging and technical animation for games or film.
• Strong portfolio with complex rigs and facial systems.
• Proficiency in Maya.
• Knowledge of rigging principles and deformers.
• Experience with Python or MEL for tools.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Understanding of anatomy and motion.
• Strong problem-solving and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain complex character rigs for humanoids, creatures, and props.
• Develop advanced rigging techniques, including facial rigging, muscle simulation, and cloth integration.
• Create and refine animation tools and scripts to improve workflow for animators.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet technical and artistic needs.
• Work with game designers and engineers to integrate animation systems into the game engine.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to character rigs and playback.
• Optimize rigs and animation data for performance and memory constraints.
• Stay current with advancements in rigging and animation tech.
• Mentor junior technical animators and riggers.

Skills

Character rigging

Technical animation

Scripting (Python)

Game engine animation systems

Maya

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation or related field

Tools

Maya

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.