Senior Technical Animator

Placements24; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Career growth opportunities

Dynamic studio environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Animator to elevate the character animation pipeline in Randburg, Gauteng. You will bridge the gap between artists, riggers, and engineers, building tools and workflows to support real-time performance in the game engine.

The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of rigging, skinning, and deformation, with a strong portfolio of technical animation work. Proficiency in Maya, Python, MEL, and experience with Unreal Engine/Unity are required, along with

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Technical Animator or in a related technical role within the game industry.
• Experience developing tools and scripts for animation pipelines using languages like Python or MEL.
• Strong understanding of character rigging, skinning, and deformation techniques.
• Proficiency with Maya.
• Experience with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Familiarity with animation principles and ability to identify animation-related technical issues.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Experience with C++ is a significant advantage.
• A portfolio showcasing technical animation work, tools, or pipeline contributions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain animation tools, scripts, and pipelines to streamline the animation workflow.
• Collaborate with animators and riggers to identify and resolve technical issues related to character movement and deformation.
• Optimize animation assets for real-time performance, ensuring efficient memory usage and smooth playback.
• Work with engineers to integrate animation systems and features into the game engine.
• Troubleshoot complex animation problems, including physics, IK/FK setups, and custom solver issues.
• Create and maintain documentation for animation tools and workflows.
• Test and implement new animation technologies and techniques.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the animation team.
• Ensure consistency and quality of character animations across the project.
• Assist with motion capture data cleanup and integration when necessary.

Skills

Strong problem solving

Team collaboration

Excellent communication

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python

MEL scripting

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading game development studio based in Randburg, Gauteng , is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Animator to enhance the quality and efficiency of their character animation pipeline. This vital role involves bridging the gap between animators, riggers, and engineers, ensuring that character movements are not only artistically compelling but also technically sound and performant within the game engine. You will develop tools, scripts, and workflows to support the animation team, troubleshoot complex technical issues, and contribute to the overall polish of character performances. This is an exceptional opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects, collaborate with a talented team, and significantly impact the final quality of game characters. We are committed to delivering top-tier player experiences and seek a candidate who excels at technical problem-solving and artistic collaboration. The ideal professional will have a strong understanding of animation principles, rigging, and game development pipelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain animation tools, scripts, and pipelines to streamline the animation workflow.
• Collaborate with animators and riggers to identify and resolve technical issues related to character movement and deformation.
• Optimize animation assets for real-time performance, ensuring efficient memory usage and smooth playback.
• Work with engineers to integrate animation systems and features into the game engine.
• Troubleshoot complex animation problems, including physics, IK/FK setups, and custom solver issues.
• Create and maintain documentation for animation tools and workflows.
• Test and implement new animation technologies and techniques.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the animation team.
• Ensure consistency and quality of character animations across the project.
• Assist with motion capture data cleanup and integration when necessary.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Technical Animator or in a related technical role within the game industry.
• Proven experience developing tools and scripts for animation pipelines using languages like Python or MEL.
• Strong understanding of character rigging, skinning, and deformation techniques.
• Proficiency with industry-standard animation software such as Maya.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Familiarity with animation principles and the ability to identify animation-related technical issues.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Experience with C++ is a significant advantage.
• A portfolio showcasing technical animation work, tools, or pipeline contributions.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and excellent opportunities for career growth within a dynamic and innovative studio environment in Randburg, Gauteng . You will work on exciting, high-impact projects with a talented and passionate team, enjoying access to cutting-edge technology and a supportive work culture. We believe in nurturing talent and providing the best environment for our employees to succeed. This is a fantastic opportunity to advance your technical animation career.