Senior Technical Animator - Rigging & Pipeline Specialist

Placements24; Riverton (UT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth opportunities

Collaborative studio environment

State-of-the-art equipment

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington, South Africa is seeking a Senior Technical Animator to design robust character rigs and advance animation pipelines. You will collaborate with modelers, animators, and technical directors to ensure rigs meet performance goals and production needs.

The role emphasizes expert rigging in Maya, Python/MEL scripting, and cross-functional teamwork to deliver high-quality character performances.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Technical Animator or Rigger with rigs and pipeline work.
• Strong knowledge of rigging principles and deformation.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and implement complex character rigs for various characters.
• Develop and maintain animation tools and pipelines to automate tasks.
• Collaborate with modelers and animators to optimize topology for rigging.

Skills

Rigging

Maya

Python

MEL

Pipeline development

Team mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics or related field

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python scripting

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a premier animation studio recognized for its high-quality character performances and sophisticated animation pipelines. We are seeking an experienced Senior Technical Animator, specializing in rigging and pipeline development, to join our dedicated team in Upington, Northern Cape. This critical role bridges the gap between character art and animation, focusing on creating robust, flexible, and efficient character rigs that enable compelling performances. You will also be instrumental in developing and refining animation pipelines, tools, and workflows to enhance artist productivity and ensure technical quality. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of animation principles, expert-level rigging skills in industry-standard software, and a strong aptitude for scripting and problem-solving. You will collaborate closely with character modelers, animators, and technical directors to achieve seamless character integration and facilitate exceptional animation. We foster a creative and collaborative work environment that values technical innovation and artistic excellence. This is an outstanding opportunity to contribute your specialized skills to impactful projects and advance your career within a studio known for its technical prowess and artistic achievements. Your work will directly empower animators to deliver outstanding performances.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and implement complex character rigs for various types of characters, ensuring they are robust, scalable, and easy to use for animators.
• Develop and maintain animation tools, scripts, and pipelines to automate tasks and improve workflow efficiency.
• Collaborate with character modelers to ensure topology and geometry are optimized for rigging and animation.
• Work closely with animators to gather feedback, troubleshoot rigging issues, and ensure rigs meet their performance needs.
• Test and refine rigs for deformities, stability, and functionality across different animation scenarios.
• Create technical documentation for rigs, tools, and pipeline procedures.
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in character rigging techniques, software, and animation pipeline technologies.
• Contribute to the technical direction of character animation for projects.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior technical animators.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator or Rigger, with a strong portfolio showcasing complex character rigs and pipeline contributions.
• Expert proficiency in character rigging within Maya, utilizing its rigging tools and scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL).
• Deep understanding of anatomy, kinematics, and deformation principles.
• Experience developing and maintaining animation pipelines, tools, and workflows.
• Familiarity with motion capture data and its application in rigging and animation.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to debug complex technical issues.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, a comprehensive benefits package, and significant opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• You will work in a state-of-the-art studio equipped with cutting-edge technology.
• Enjoy a highly collaborative and inspiring work environment that values technical expertise and artistic innovation.
• We offer excellent work-life balance initiatives and encourage participation in industry conferences and training.
• This role provides the chance to significantly impact the quality of character animation on prestigious projects and grow your career as a technical leader in the animation industry.