Senior Animation Tech Lead - Rigging & Tools

Placements24; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package and bonuses

High-profile game projects

Leading-edge tools and technologies

Supportive and creative studio

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist for our client in Centurion, Gauteng. You will build and maintain advanced rigs, implement animation systems, and collaborate with artists to deliver lifelike character performance.

The role requires strong knowledge of anatomy, mechanics, and animation principles, plus expertise in Maya and Python/MEL scripting. You will shape pipelines and drive efficiency across projects in a dynamic studio.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator or Rigger in the video game industry.
• Portfolio showcasing advanced rigging and animation work.
• Proficiency in Maya and scripting languages (Python or MEL).
• Understanding of human and creature anatomy and animation principles.
• Experience with game engines and their animation systems.

Responsibilities

• Create, refine, and maintain complex character and creature rigs with performance and artistic flexibility.
• Develop and implement animation tools and scripts to boost workflow efficiency.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet needs and troubleshoot issues.
• Ensure topology and UVs are optimized for rigging and deformation.
• Develop animation state machines, blending, and IK/FK systems.
• Provide training and technical support on rigging and animation best practices.
• Analyze and optimize animation performance for target platforms.
• Stay updated on rigging techniques and industry trends.

Skills

Technical animation

Rigging

Python/MEL scripting

Maya

Animation pipelines

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist for our client in Centurion, Gauteng. You will build and maintain advanced rigs, implement animation systems, and collaborate with artists to deliver lifelike character performance.

The role requires strong knowledge of anatomy, mechanics, and animation principles, plus expertise in Maya and Python/MEL scripting. You will shape pipelines and drive efficiency across projects in a dynamic studio.