Lead Technical Animator for Game Development

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health and dental benefits

Performance-based bonus

Cutting-edge development tools

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Technical Animator in Vereeniging, Gauteng to drive animation quality for our upcoming AAA titles. You will lead a team of animators, build robust rigs and animation systems, and ensure seamless integration with Unreal Engine and Unity.

The role emphasizes collaboration with designers, programmers, and artists to align gameplay and visuals. The ideal candidate brings deep rigging expertise, strong leadership, and a passion for cutting-edge game animation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator or Lead Animator in games.
• Strong portfolio of rigging, animation, and technical art skills.
• Proficiency in Maya or Blender and Unreal or Unity.
• Deep understanding of character rigging, skinning, and animation state machines.
• Scripting experience (Python, MEL) for pipelines is desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong leadership and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of technical and character animators.
• Develop and maintain robust character rigs and animation systems for game development.
• Oversee the creation of high-quality character, creature, and environment animations.
• Collaborate with game designers, programmers, and artists to ensure animation meets gameplay and narrative requirements.
• Implement and optimize animations within the game engine (Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Establish and enforce animation pipelines, standards, and best practices.
• Troubleshoot complex animation and rigging issues.
• Conduct animation reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure animation quality.
• Stay abreast of latest technologies and techniques in game animation and rigging.
• Contribute to the technical and artistic direction of the animation department.

Skills

Leadership

Character rigging

Animation systems

Real-time optimization

Communication

Mentoring

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation or Game Design

Tools

Maya

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly acclaimed video game studio known for its immersive worlds and engaging gameplay, is seeking a Lead Technical Animator to spearhead their animation efforts. This pivotal role requires an individual with a deep understanding of both artistic animation principles and the technical demands of game development. You will lead a team of talented animators, ensuring the seamless integration of high-quality character and creature animations into the game engine. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in character rigging, animation systems, and optimizing animations for real-time performance. This position offers the exciting opportunity to shape the core mechanics and visual fidelity of our upcoming AAA titles, working within a collaborative and innovative environment. Join us in Vereeniging, Gauteng , and help define the future of interactive entertainment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of technical and character animators.
• Develop and maintain robust character rigs and animation systems for game development.
• Oversee the creation of high-quality character, creature, and environment animations.
• Collaborate closely with game designers, programmers, and artists to ensure animation meets gameplay and narrative requirements.
• Implement and optimize animations within the game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Establish and enforce animation pipelines, standards, and best practices.
• Troubleshoot complex animation and rigging issues.
• Conduct animation reviews, provide constructive feedback, and ensure animation quality.
• Stay abreast of the latest technologies and techniques in game animation and rigging.
• Contribute to the technical and artistic direction of the animation department.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator or Lead Animator in the video game industry.
• Strong portfolio showcasing exceptional rigging, animation, and technical art skills.
• Expertise in 3D animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender) and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Deep understanding of character rigging, skinning, and animation state machines.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for pipeline automation is highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong leadership and communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment.
• A passion for video games and a strong understanding of gameplay mechanics.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation, Game Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health and dental benefits, and a performance-based bonus structure. Employees enjoy access to cutting-edge technology and development tools, opportunities for professional growth, and a dynamic work environment in Vereeniging, Gauteng . We foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The company provides ample paid time off and supports a healthy work-life balance. Join a studio that values its team and is dedicated to creating unforgettable gaming experiences.