Senior Character Technical Artist

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

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly work

Health benefits

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Character Technical Artist to join our remote team. You will empower artists to create high-quality, performance-optimized character assets for games and animated features.

Responsibilities include building and maintaining rigging systems in Maya/Blender, optimizing topology and shaders, and developing tools (Python, MEL) to automate pipelines. Strong collaboration with artists, animators, and engineers is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Character Technical Artist or similar role with a strong portfolio.
• Expertise in character rigging, including complex skeletal structures, blend shapes, and deformation systems.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling software (Maya, Blender) and character-focused tools.
• Strong understanding of character art pipelines from modeling/texturing to rigging/engine integration.
• Experience with scripting languages (Python, MEL) for tool development.
• Familiarity with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their character rendering/animation systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve character rigging systems using industry-standard software (Maya, Blender).
• Optimize character models, including topology, UVs, and polycount, for real-time performance or animation needs.
• Create and optimize character shaders and materials for various rendering pipelines.
• Develop tools and scripts (Python, MEL) to automate character asset creation, import/export, and pipeline workflows.
• Collaborate with artists, animators, and engineers to ensure seamless integration and performance of character assets.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character models, rigs, and textures.
• Stay updated on latest advancements in character tech, rigging techniques, and optimization.
• Provide technical guidance and support to character art and animation teams.

Skills

Character rigging

Scripting (Python, MEL)

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics or related field

Tools

Maya

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, an award-winning character animation studio, is seeking a Senior Character Technical Artist to join their remote team. This position is crucial for empowering our artists to create high-quality, performance-optimized character assets for games and animated features. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining character rigging systems, optimizing models and textures, and building tools that streamline the character art pipeline. The ideal candidate possesses a strong blend of artistic understanding, technical expertise, and a passion for problem-solving in the realm of character creation. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact on character fidelity and development efficiency for our ambitious projects, working from anywhere but primarily engaging with our Randburg, Gauteng, ZA based operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and improve robust character rigging systems using industry-standard software (e.g., Maya, Blender).
• Optimize character models, including topology, UVs, and polycount, for real-time performance or animation needs.
• Create and optimize character shaders and materials for various rendering pipelines.
• Develop tools and scripts (e.g., Python, MEL) to automate character asset creation, import/export, and pipeline workflows.
• Collaborate closely with character artists, animators, and engineers to ensure seamless integration and performance of character assets.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character models, rigs, and textures.
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in character technology, rigging techniques, and performance optimization.
• Provide technical guidance and support to character art and animation teams.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Character Technical Artist or a similar role, with a strong portfolio demonstrating character rigging, modeling, and optimization skills.
• Expertise in character rigging, including complex skeletal structures, blend shapes, and deformation systems.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling software (Maya, Blender) and character-focused tools.
• Strong understanding of character art pipelines, from modeling and texturing to rigging and engine integration.
• Experience with scripting languages (Python, MEL) for tool development.
• Familiarity with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their character rendering/animation systems.
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, essential for remote teamwork.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and opportunities for professional development and training.
• Enjoy the flexibility of a remote role while contributing to cutting-edge character animation projects.
• We foster a supportive and collaborative remote culture.
• This position offers paid time off and potential for performance-based bonuses.
• Join a passionate team that values innovation and artistic excellence.