Senior 3D Animator & Technical Artist

Placements24; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 344,000 - 689,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contract role with extension potential

Competitive contract rate

Job summary

Placements24 in Randburg, Gauteng, is seeking a Senior 3D Animator & Technical Artist to join a dynamic studio in the South African digital arts scene. The role blends artistic mastery with technical rigging, shader development, and real-time engine optimization to deliver polished characters, environments, and effects.

You will build and refine animation systems, pipelines, and tools, mentor junior artists, and collaborate with art directors and designers to meet gameplay and visual targets

Qualifications

• 6+ years in 3D animation or technical art in gaming/VFX.
• Proficiency with Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, ZBrush.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity in real-time pipelines.
• Skilled in rigging and skinning of characters.
• Scripting in Python or MEL for tool development.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating animation and technical art.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character and object animations for games, simulations, or visual effects.
• Develop and implement complex animation systems and rigs.
• Optimize 3D models, textures, and animations for performance in real-time environments.
• Create and refine materials and shaders to achieve desired visual aesthetics.
• Collaborate with art directors and game designers to achieve artistic vision and gameplay requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to art assets and pipelines.
• Develop tools and scripts to improve the efficiency of the art production workflow.
• Ensure consistency and quality across all 3D assets.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in 3D animation and technical art practices.
• Mentor junior artists and provide technical guidance.

Skills

Rigging & skinning

Python/MEL scripting

Shader development

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Maya

Blender

3ds Max

ZBrush

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent studio within the South African digital arts and entertainment sector, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior 3D Animator & Technical Artist to join their innovative team in Randburg, Gauteng. This role requires a unique blend of artistic skill in 3D animation and technical expertise in optimizing workflows and assets for real-time engines and various production pipelines. You will be responsible for creating high-quality character and environment animations, developing shaders, optimizing models, and troubleshooting technical challenges to ensure seamless integration of assets. The ideal candidate possesses a keen eye for detail, a deep understanding of animation principles, and a strong command of industry-standard 3D software and game engines. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute your talents to visually stunning projects, working alongside a team of passionate creatives and technologists in the bustling hub of Gauteng.

Key Responsibilities

• Create high-quality character and object animations for games, simulations, or visual effects.
• Develop and implement complex animation systems and rigs.
• Optimize 3D models, textures, and animations for performance in real-time environments.
• Create and refine materials and shaders to achieve desired visual aesthetics.
• Collaborate with art directors and game designers to achieve artistic vision and gameplay requirements.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to art assets and pipelines.
• Develop tools and scripts to improve the efficiency of the art production workflow.
• Ensure consistency and quality across all 3D assets.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in 3D animation and technical art practices.
• Mentor junior artists and provide technical guidance.

Requirements

• A minimum of 6 years of experience as a 3D Animator and/or Technical Artist in the game development or VFX industry.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D software such as Maya, Blender, 3ds Max, ZBrush.
• Strong experience with real-time game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Expertise in character rigging and skinning.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for tool development.
• Solid understanding of PBR workflows, material creation, and shader development.
• A strong portfolio showcasing exceptional animation and technical art skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Good communication and teamwork abilities.
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive contract rate for this demanding role, reflecting the specialized skills and extensive experience required. This position provides a fantastic opportunity to work on exciting and visually impressive projects, contributing significantly to the final product. You will have access to cutting-edge technology and work within a highly collaborative and creative team environment. While this is a contract position, there is potential for extension and further engagement based on project success and evolving needs. Our client values technical proficiency and artistic excellence, offering a stimulating and rewarding work experience in Randburg. This is an excellent chance to expand your professional network and portfolio within the dynamic South African digital arts scene.