Senior Character Rigger

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 950,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Coastal Mossel Bay location

Mentoring and growth opportunities

Collaborative creative team

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay seeks a Senior Character Rigger to create sophisticated control rigs for human, creature, and prop models. You will drive rigging pipelines, ensure animation-friendly deformations, and collaborate with modelers and animators to deliver high-quality characters.

You will mentor junior riggers, stay current with Maya tools and scripting (MEL, Python), and contribute to groundbreaking projects in a coastal studio known for its creative team and award-winning productions.

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience as a Character Rigger in the Arts & Entertainment industry.
• Strong portfolio showcasing advanced character rigging capabilities, including facial rigs and dynamic deformation.
• Expert proficiency in Maya and its rigging tools; scripting in MEL and Python.
• Solid understanding of human and creature anatomy, biomechanics and animation principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop complex and intuitive control rigs for human, creature, and prop models.
• Implement deformation techniques and skinning for realistic movement.
• Collaborate with modelers and animators to ensure seamless integration of rigs.
• Troubleshoot and optimize rigs for performance and workflow efficiency.
• Establish rigging pipelines and best practices within the studio.
• Create technical documentation for rigging processes and tools.
• Develop custom rigging tools and scripts to improve efficiency.
• Stay current with advancements in rigging technology and software.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior riggers.

Skills

Character rigging

Maya rigging

Facial rigs

Skeletal deformation

Anatomy knowledge

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Animation/Computer Graphics

Tools

Maya

MEL

Python scripting

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a highly respected name in the Arts & Entertainment industry, is actively seeking a Senior Character Rigger to join their talented team in Mossel Bay, Western Cape . This pivotal role involves the creation of sophisticated and functional control rigs for complex character models, enabling animators to bring them to life with fluidity and expressiveness. You will be instrumental in establishing rigging pipelines, ensuring efficiency and high-quality results for our character animation department. We are looking for a meticulous and technically adept artist with a deep understanding of anatomy, animation principles, and advanced rigging techniques. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking projects and elevate the performance of our digital characters.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop complex and intuitive control rigs for a wide range of character models, including humans, creatures, and props.
• Implement deformation techniques and skinning for realistic and believable character movement.
• Collaborate closely with character modelers and animators to understand their needs and ensure seamless integration of rigs.
• Troubleshoot and optimize rigs to ensure smooth performance and efficient animation workflows.
• Establish and maintain rigging pipelines and best practices within the studio.
• Create technical documentation for rigging processes and tools.
• Develop custom rigging tools and scripts to improve efficiency and workflow.
• Stay current with advancements in rigging technology and software.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior riggers.

Requirements

• Substantial professional experience as a Character Rigger in the Arts & Entertainment industry, with a focus on high-quality character animation.
• A strong portfolio showcasing advanced character rigging capabilities, including complex facial rigs and dynamic deformation.
• Expert proficiency in Maya, including its rigging tools and scripting languages (MEL, Python).
• Deep understanding of human and creature anatomy, biomechanics, and animation principles.
• Experience with skinning techniques, weight painting, and deformation setups.
• Familiarity with game engines and their rigging requirements is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet project deadlines.
• A degree in Animation, Computer Graphics, or a related discipline is preferred.

Benefits

• A competitive salary package designed to attract top talent in the rigging field.
• The opportunity to work on exciting and visually stunning character-driven projects.
• Be part of a collaborative and highly skilled creative team.
• Opportunities for professional growth and learning within a leading studio.
• A stable and rewarding work environment in the beautiful coastal town of Mossel Bay.
• Contribute significantly to the lifelike performance of characters.