Senior Animation Director - Real-time VFX

Placements24; United States; Remote; USD 120.000 - 180.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Competitive salary

Fully remote work

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Flexible schedule

Home office setup allowance

Access to cutting-edge software

Zusammenfassung

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Senior Animation Director with a specialization in real-time VFX to lead our creative efforts for groundbreaking interactive projects. This fully remote role requires guiding a world-class team of animators and VFX artists, defining the animation and VFX direction across immersive experiences.

You will collaborate with designers, art directors, and technical artists to optimize real-time pipelines, shaders, and particle systems, delivering stunning visuals

Qualifikationen

• 10+ years of experience in animation and VFX for games or real-time applications with leadership experience
• Expertise in real-time VFX creation using industry-standard software and game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity)
• Proficiency in 3D animation software (Maya, Blender) and VFX tools (Houdini, Niagara)
• Strong understanding of animation principles, rigging, motion capture cleanup, and particle systems
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor creative teams effectively in a remote setting
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• A strong portfolio showcasing real-time VFX and animation work is mandatory
• Experience with shader development and performance optimization techniques
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in relevant field
• Proactive and self-motivated in a remote, collaborative environment

Aufgaben

• Establish and maintain the overall animation and real-time VFX style and quality standards
• Direct and supervise a team of animators and VFX artists throughout the production pipeline
• Collaborate with game designers, art directors, and technical artists to achieve desired visual outcomes
• Develop and implement efficient workflows for real-time animation and VFX asset creation and integration
• Provide technical and artistic guidance on animation techniques, particle systems, shaders, and post-processing effects
• Ensure all real-time VFX and animations are optimized for performance without compromising quality
• Create and review animation and VFX reference materials and style guides
• Manage project timelines and deliverables in animation and VFX departments
• Conduct regular reviews, provide constructive feedback, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies in real-time graphics and animation

Kenntnisse

Leadership

Remote team management

Real-time VFX

Communication

Problem solving

Portfolio review

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in Animation/CG or related

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

Blender

Houdini

Niagara

Jobbeschreibung

About the Role

Our client is looking for a visionary Senior Animation Director with a specialization in Real-time Visual Effects (VFX) to lead our creative efforts. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere. You will be instrumental in defining and executing the animation and VFX direction for our groundbreaking interactive projects. This role requires a deep understanding of real-time rendering pipelines, animation principles, and the technical artistry needed to create stunning visual effects that perform flawlessly within game engines. The ideal candidate is a proven leader with a keen artistic eye, exceptional technical skills, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in real-time graphics. You will guide a talented team of animators and VFX artists, ensuring a cohesive and breathtaking visual experience for our global audience. Your expertise will be crucial in bringing imaginative worlds to life with unparalleled visual fidelity and dynamic motion, making this a truly exciting remote opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain the overall animation and real-time VFX style and quality standards for projects.
• Direct and supervise a team of animators and VFX artists throughout the production pipeline.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, art directors, and technical artists to achieve the desired visual outcomes.
• Develop and implement efficient workflows for real-time animation and VFX asset creation and integration.
• Provide technical and artistic guidance on animation techniques, particle systems, shaders, and post-processing effects.
• Ensure all real-time VFX and animations are optimized for performance without compromising visual quality.
• Create and review animation and VFX reference materials and style guides.
• Manage project timelines and deliverables related to animation and VFX departments.
• Conduct regular reviews, provide constructive feedback, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies in real-time graphics and animation.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in animation and VFX for games or real-time applications, with at least 5 years in a leadership or directorial role.
• Expertise in real-time VFX creation using industry-standard software and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Proficiency in 3D animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender) and relevant VFX tools (e.g., Houdini, Niagara).
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character rigging, motion capture cleanup, and particle systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor creative teams effectively in a remote setting.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional real-time VFX and animation work is mandatory.
• Experience with shader development and performance optimization techniques.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Fine Arts, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to thrive in a remote, collaborative environment.

Benefits

• This fully remote position offers a competitive salary
• comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• a generous retirement savings plan
• We provide a flexible work schedule
• a generous allowance for home office setup and ongoing professional development
• Employees have access to cutting-edge software and resources
• opportunities to work on high-impact, visually stunning projects

Our client is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive remote workforce, where talent is recognized and rewarded regardless of location.

Continuous learning is encouraged through online courses, workshops, and conferences, ensuring you stay at the forefront of real-time graphics technology.

We believe in empowering our remote team members to achieve their full potential.