Lead Technical Animator: Real-Time Character Motion Systems

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Professional development

Relocation assistance

Team events

Job summary

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.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Team leadership

Technical animation

Real-time engine workflows

Rigging & skinning

Maya proficiency

Scripting (Python/MEL)

Performance optimization

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animation/CG or related field

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

Control Rig

Python scripting

MEL scripting

Job description

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.