Lead Technical Animator - Character Motion Systems

Placements24; Randburg; Híbrido; ZAR 700 000 - 1 100 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Hybrid work model

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development

Relocation assistance

Team events

Resumo da oferta

Placements24 in Randburg, Gauteng, seeks an experienced Lead Technical Animator to lead a team and build robust motion systems for real-time engines. The role bridges artistry and implementation, shaping locomotion, facial animation, and blend-tree development while collaborating with artists and riggers.

The ideal candidate has 6+ years in technical animation, strong rigging and scripting skills, and a portfolio demonstrating pipeline contributions. Hybrid work model offered.

Qualificações

• 6+ years of experience in technical animation or a related field in the game industry.
• Experience leading or senior technical animation roles.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, rigging, and skinning.
• Proficiency with real-time engines (Unreal/Unity) and rigging tools.
• Expertise in Maya and animation-related scripting (Python, MEL).
• Experience creating complex animation systems (IK, blend trees, state machines).
• Solid understanding of performance optimization for animation data.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Portfolio demonstrating technical animation skills and pipeline contributions.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

Responsabilidades

• Lead and mentor a team of technical animators and oversee workflow.
• Develop and maintain animation systems and pipelines for real-time engines.
• Create and optimize blend trees, state machines, and IK/FK systems.
• Work with artists to ensure deform-stable rigs for complex animations.
• Collaborate with animators to implement and polish character performances.
• Develop tools and scripts to boost animator efficiency.
• Profile and optimize animation performance for smooth frame rates.
• Troubleshoot animation and engine integration issues.
• Stay updated on latest animation tech and pipelines.
• Conduct technical reviews of assets and provide feedback.

Conhecimentos

Team leadership

Technical animation

Real-time engine workflows

Rigging & skinning

Maya proficiency

Scripting (Python/MEL)

Performance optimization

Communication skills

Formação académica

Bachelor's degree in Animation/CG or related field

Ferramentas

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

Control Rig

Python scripting

MEL scripting

Descrição da oferta de emprego

About the Role

Our client, a leading studio recognized for its visually stunning interactive experiences, is seeking an experienced Lead Technical Animator to join their team in Randburg, Gauteng. This critical role bridges the gap between character artistry and animation implementation, focusing on building robust motion systems and ensuring high-quality character performance within the game engine. You will lead a team of technical animators, collaborate closely with character artists and animators, and develop innovative solutions for character locomotion, facial animation, and blend-tree creation. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of animation principles, rigging, scripting, and real-time engine workflows. This is an exciting opportunity to influence the animation pipeline and enhance the believability of characters in our ambitious projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of technical animators, overseeing their workflow and development.
• Develop and maintain sophisticated character animation systems and pipelines for real-time engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Create and optimize animation blend trees, state machines, and IK/FK systems.
• Collaborate with character artists and riggers to ensure deform-stable rigs suitable for complex animations.
• Work closely with animators to implement and polish character performances, ensuring they meet technical and artistic requirements.
• Develop tools and scripts to enhance animator efficiency and automate repetitive tasks.
• Profile and optimize animation performance to ensure smooth frame rates and responsiveness.Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character animation and engine integration.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in animation technology, rigging, and real-time engines.
• Conduct technical reviews of animation assets and provide constructive feedback.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in technical animation or a related field within the game industry.
• Proven experience in a lead or senior technical animation role.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character rigging, and skinning.
• Proficiency with real-time engines such as Unreal Engine (Blueprints, Control Rig) or Unity.
• Expertise in Maya, and experience with animation-related scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL).
• Experience creating and implementing complex animation systems (e.g., inverse kinematics, blend trees, state machines).
• Solid understanding of performance optimization for animation data.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to diagnose and fix complex technical issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective team collaboration.
• A portfolio demonstrating technical animation skills, pipeline contributions, and system design is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of ZAR.
• Hybrid work model offering excellent flexibility.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Company-sponsored retirement plan.
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Opportunities for professional development, conferences, and training.
• Work on critically acclaimed and exciting game titles.
• Performance-based bonuses and rewards.
• Relocation assistance available for exceptional candidates.
• Vibrant studio culture with regular team events.