Senior Technical Animator: Rigging & Tools Lead

Placements24; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary package and bonuses

High-profile game projects

Leading-edge tools and technologies

Supportive and creative studio

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist for our client in Centurion, Gauteng. You will build and maintain advanced rigs, implement animation systems, and collaborate with artists to deliver lifelike character performance.

The role requires strong knowledge of anatomy, mechanics, and animation principles, plus expertise in Maya and Python/MEL scripting. You will shape pipelines and drive efficiency across projects in a dynamic studio.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Technical Animator or Rigger in the video game industry.
• Portfolio showcasing advanced rigging and animation work.
• Proficiency in Maya and scripting languages (Python or MEL).
• Understanding of human and creature anatomy and animation principles.
• Experience with game engines and their animation systems.

Responsibilities

• Create, refine, and maintain complex character and creature rigs with performance and artistic flexibility.
• Develop and implement animation tools and scripts to boost workflow efficiency.
• Collaborate with animators to ensure rigs meet needs and troubleshoot issues.
• Ensure topology and UVs are optimized for rigging and deformation.
• Develop animation state machines, blending, and IK/FK systems.
• Provide training and technical support on rigging and animation best practices.
• Analyze and optimize animation performance for target platforms.
• Stay updated on rigging techniques and industry trends.

Skills

Technical animation

Rigging

Python/MEL scripting

Maya

Animation pipelines

Tools

Maya

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

Showing 105 Senior Technical Animator Rigging Tools Lead jobs in Gauteng

Senior Technical Animator & Rigging Specialist

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 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.
• Com