Remote Senior Technical Animator - Character Rigging Specialist

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

Job summary

Placements24 recruits a Senior Remote Technical Animator specializing in character rigging for AAA game projects. You will design, build, and optimize complex rigs, integrate with Unreal Engine or Unity, and develop rigging tools to streamline workflows.

We seek an expert in anatomy, animation principles, Python/MEL scripting, and pipeline tools, capable of collaborating with artists, animators and designers in a fully remote team to deliver lifelike performances.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in technical animation and character rigging for games.
• Advanced character rigging for bipedal and quadrupedal characters.
• Proficiency in Maya.
• Experience with scripting languages (Python, MEL) for rigging automation.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, kinematics, and animation principles.
• Familiarity with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Experience with asset creation and pipeline tools.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities, especially in a remote setting.
• A keen eye for detail and a passion for creating lifelike character performances.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain complex and efficient character rigs for game development.
• Implement rigs within the chosen game engine (Unreal/Unity) and troubleshoot integration issues.
• Develop and refine rigging tools and scripts to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet performance and expressiveness needs.
• Work closely with character artists to establish efficient topology and pipeline requirements for models.
• Ensure character rigs are optimized for performance and memory constraints.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the animation team on rigging-related matters.
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in character rigging and technical animation.
• Contribute to the development of character pipelines and best practices.
• Test and iterate on rigs based on animation feedback and project requirements.

Skills

Character rigging

Maya

Python scripting

MEL scripting

Unreal/Unity integration

Rigging automation

Anatomy knowledge

Animation principles

Remote collaboration

Tools

Maya

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a cutting-edge game development studio pushing the boundaries of interactive storytelling and visual fidelity. They are seeking a highly skilled Remote Senior Technical Animator , specializing in character rigging, to join their dynamic, fully remote team. This role is critical for bringing believable and dynamic characters to life in their upcoming titles. You will be responsible for developing, implementing, and optimizing robust character rigs, ensuring seamless integration with animation systems and game engines. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of anatomy, animation principles, rigging pipelines, and scripting for automation. You will collaborate closely with animators, character artists, and game designers to ensure characters perform optimally and meet the artistic vision. We are looking for an experienced rigging artist who thrives in a remote work environment and is passionate about creating high-quality character performances for AAA games. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute your expertise to impactful projects without geographical limitations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain complex and efficient character rigs for game development.
• Implement rigs within the chosen game engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and troubleshoot integration issues.
• Develop and refine rigging tools and scripts to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet their needs for performance and expressiveness.
• Work closely with character artists to establish efficient topology and pipeline requirements for models.
• Ensure character rigs are optimized for performance and memory constraints.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the animation team on rigging-related matters.
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in character rigging and technical animation.
• Contribute to the development of character pipelines and best practices.
• Test and iterate on rigs based on animation feedback and project requirements.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in technical animation and character rigging for games.
• Proven expertise in building advanced character rigs for bipedal and quadrupedal characters.
• Proficiency in rigging software such as Maya.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for rigging automation.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, kinematics, and animation principles.
• Familiarity with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Experience with asset creation and pipeline tools.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities, especially in a remote setting.
• A keen eye for detail and a passion for creating lifelike character performances.

Benefits

This is a fully remote, full-time position offering a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package. Our client offers a flexible working environment and values a healthy work-life balance. You will join a talented and passionate team working on exciting, high-impact game projects. Continuous learning and professional development are strongly encouraged. Be part of a studio that is at the forefront of game development technology and innovation, working from your preferred location.