Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonuses

Hybrid work arrangement

Health benefits

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 in Centurion, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist to bring characters and creatures to life with believable movement. You will develop high-quality rigs, implement animation systems, and collaborate with animators to ensure performance.

The role requires deep knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and animation principles, plus expert rigging and scripting skills (Python/MEL).

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Technical Animator or Rigger with a strong portfolio showcasing advanced rigging and animation work.
• Proficiency in Maya and scripting (Python/MEL).
• Deep understanding of human and creature anatomy, biomechanics, and animation principles.

Responsibilities

• Create, refine, and maintain complex character and creature rigs, ensuring functionality, performance, and artistic flexibility.
• Develop and implement animation tools and scripts to enhance workflow efficiency for the animation team.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet their needs and to troubleshoot animation issues.
• Work closely with character artists and modelers to ensure model topology and UVs are optimized for rigging and deformation.
• Develop and implement animation state machines, blending techniques, and IK/FK systems.
• Provide technical support and training to the animation team on rigging and animation best practices.
• Analyze and optimize animation performance for target platforms.
• Stay updated on the latest rigging techniques, software advancements, and industry trends.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the character pipeline.

Skills

Maya

Python

MEL

Unreal Engine

Unity

Character rigging

Animation systems

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Python scripting

MEL scripting

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading developer of visually stunning interactive entertainment, is seeking a talented Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist to join their esteemed studio in Centurion, Gauteng. This role is crucial for bringing characters and creatures to life with believable movement and expression. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining high-quality character rigs, implementing animation systems, and collaborating closely with animators to achieve top-tier performance. This position requires a deep understanding of anatomy, mechanics, and animation principles, coupled with advanced technical skills in rigging and scripting. You will play a key role in defining and refining animation pipelines, ensuring efficiency and quality across all projects. We are looking for a creative problem-solver with a passion for character performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Create, refine, and maintain complex character and creature rigs, ensuring functionality, performance, and artistic flexibility.
• Develop and implement animation tools and scripts to enhance workflow efficiency for the animation team.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet their needs and to troubleshoot animation issues.
• Work closely with character artists and modelers to ensure model topology and UVs are optimized for rigging and deformation.
• Develop and implement animation state machines, blending techniques, and IK/FK systems.
• Provide technical support and training to the animation team on rigging and animation best practices.
• Analyze and optimize animation performance for target platforms.
• Stay updated on the latest rigging techniques, software advancements, and industry trends.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the character pipeline.

Requirements

• Extensive experience as a Technical Animator or Rigger in the video game industry, with a strong portfolio showcasing advanced rigging and animation work.
• Proficiency in industry-standard 3D software such as Maya, and scripting languages like Python or MEL.
• Deep understanding of human and creature anatomy, biomechanics, and animation principles.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems.
• Knowledge of skinning, deformation, weight painting, and corrective shape techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts clearly.
• A keen eye for detail and a passion for creating lifelike character performances.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package and performance bonuses.
• Opportunity to work on exciting, high-profile game projects.
• Access to leading-edge animation and rigging tools and technologies.
• A supportive and creative studio environment.
• Comprehensive health benefits.
• Hybrid work arrangement, offering flexibility for employees in the Centurion, Gauteng area.
• Professional development opportunities and career growth paths.