Senior Technical Animator for Game Development

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

This position comes with a highly-$-?

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Animator for our studio in Rustenburg, North West. You will bridge artistic animation and game engine implementation, developing and maintaining animation systems, rigging complex characters, and optimizing assets for peak performance in a fast-paced entertainment environment.

You will collaborate with designers, artists, and programmers to ensure animations meet design goals, create animations for gameplay and cinematics, and mentor junior staff while

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator in the game industry with a strong portfolio.
• Strong rigging and animation work demonstrating complex rigs and real-time performance.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation, Game Design or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain advanced character rigs and animation systems.
• Create high-quality character animations for gameplay, cinematics, and UI elements.
• Collaborate with game designers, artists, and programmers to meet design requirements and technical specs.
• Optimize animation assets for performance across platforms.
• Write scripts (e.g., Python, MEL) to automate animation tasks and improve workflow efficiency.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to animation, rigging, and engine integration.
• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in animation technology and techniques.
• Mentor junior animators and provide technical guidance.
• Create clear documentation for animation pipelines and tools.

Skills

Rigging

Animation pipelines

Scripting automation

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation or related field

Tools

Maya

3ds Max

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python

MEL

C#

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in interactive entertainment, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Animator to join their innovative studio in **Rustenburg, North West**. This position is crucial for bridging the gap between artistic animation and game engine implementation, ensuring fluid and believable character movement and in-game object interactions. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining animation systems, rigging complex characters, and optimizing animation assets for peak performance. We are looking for a creative problem-solver with a deep understanding of animation pipelines, scripting, and engine integration. This role offers the exciting opportunity to shape the player experience through high-quality animation and cutting-edge technical solutions in the **Arts & Entertainment** field.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain advanced character rigs and animation systems.


• Create high-quality character animations for gameplay, cinematics, and UI elements.


• Collaborate closely with game designers, artists, and programmers to ensure animation meets design requirements and technical specifications.


• Optimize animation assets for performance across various platforms.


• Write scripts (e.g., Python, MEL) to automate animation tasks and improve workflow efficiency.


• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to animation, rigging, and engine integration.


• Stay current with industry trends and advancements in animation technology and techniques.


• Mentor junior animators and provide technical guidance.


• Create clear documentation for animation pipelines and tools.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator in the game development industry, with a strong portfolio demonstrating complex rigging and animation work.


• Expertise in 3D animation software such as Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender.


• Proficiency in rigging techniques and tools, including skinning, constraints, and controllers.


• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.


• Solid understanding of scripting languages (Python, MEL, C#).


• Knowledge of animation principles and character mechanics.


• Ability to optimize assets for real-time performance.


• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.


• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.


• Bachelor's degree in Computer Animation, Game Design, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• This position comes with a highly competitive salary.


• Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.