Senior Character Technical Director (TD)

Placements24; Benoni; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent full-time

Global feature projects

State-of-the-art tech

Health insurance and retirement plans

Professional development

Creative studio culture

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Character Technical Director for our Benoni studio to lead rigging, deformation, and character setup across features and reels.

You will design and implement advanced rigs, muscle and skinning systems, and simulate hair, cloth, and accessories, collaborating with artists to meet production needs on-site.

Qualifications

• Proven professional experience as a Character Technical Director or Senior Rigger in animation, VFX, or gaming.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating advanced character rigs and deformation solutions.
• Proficiency in Maya; experience with Python and MEL scripting.
• Deep understanding of anatomy, rigging principles, and animation workflows.
• Experience with cloth, hair, and dynamics simulations.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain complex character rigs for 3D animation with high control and performance.
• Develop and implement deformation systems including muscles, skinning, and facial rigging.
• Create and manage simulation setups for hair, cloth, and accessories.
• Collaborate with character modelers, riggers, and animators to meet project needs.
• Develop and maintain tools and scripts to streamline the rigging and animation pipeline.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character assets and animation.
• Optimize rigs and simulations for efficient rendering and playback.
• Stay current with emerging rigging, simulation, and animation tech.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to the team.
• Document rigging standards, tools, and workflows.

Skills

Maya

Python

MEL

Rigging

Character TD

Tools

Maya

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a world-renowned animation studio celebrated for its captivating characters and storytelling, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Character Technical Director (TD) to join their esteemed team in Benoni, Gauteng . This pivotal role demands a unique blend of artistic sensibility and deep technical expertise to bring characters to life through sophisticated rigging, simulation, and deformation. You will be instrumental in developing and implementing advanced character setups that empower animators and artists, ensuring seamless integration into the production pipeline. This is an on-site position, fostering close collaboration and real-time problem-solving within a vibrant creative hub. If you are passionate about character performance, possess exceptional scripting skills, and are driven to push the boundaries of digital character animation, this is an unparalleled opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain complex character rigs for 3D animation, ensuring high levels of control, flexibility, and performance.
• Develop and implement advanced deformation systems, including muscle systems, skinning, and facial rigging.
• Create and manage simulation setups for elements like hair, cloth, and accessories.
• Collaborate closely with character modelers, riggers, and animators to understand and meet project requirements.
• Develop and maintain tools and scripts to streamline the rigging and animation pipeline.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character assets and animation performance.
• Optimize character rigs and simulations for efficient rendering and playback.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and techniques in character rigging, simulation, and animation.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other members of the technical team.
• Document rigging standards, tools, and workflows.

Requirements

• Proven professional experience as a Character Technical Director or Senior Rigger in the animation, VFX, or gaming industry.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in creating advanced character rigs and solving complex deformation challenges.
• Proficiency in industry-standard rigging software such as Maya.
• Expertise in scripting languages commonly used in animation pipelines, such as Python and MEL.
• Deep understanding of anatomy, rigging principles, and animation workflows.
• Experience with simulation tools for cloth, hair, and dynamics.
• Solid understanding of Maya's rigging and deformation tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, on-site production environment.
• Based in or willing to relocate to Benoni, Gauteng .

Benefits

• Permanent full-time position with a competitive salary.
• Opportunity to work on globally recognized animated features.
• Access to state-of-the‑art technology and tools.
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement plans.
• Professional development and training programs.
• A creative and inspiring studio culture.