Technical Theater Director

Placements24; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Technical Director specializing in Animation Technology for a fully remote role. You will oversee animation tools and pipelines, drive tool development, and ensure robust integration of cutting-edge tech across productions.

You will mentor staff, collaborate with artists and engineers, and stay current with industry advances in real-time rendering and animation software such as Maya, Houdini, and Blender.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in technical direction or pipeline development for animation or VFX.
• Proficiency in Python, MEL, and C++ scripting.
• Experience with Maya, Houdini, or Blender.
• Knowledge of real-time rendering and game engines is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of animation tools and pipelines.
• Optimize workflows for efficiency, performance, and stability.
• Collaborate with animators, artists, and engineers to understand technical needs.
• Develop custom scripts and plugins for animation software (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Blender).
• Research and integrate new technologies and software solutions.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and provide solutions to the animation team.
• Document technical processes, tools, and workflows.
• Ensure the technical quality and feasibility of animation projects.
• Stay current with advancements in animation technology and computer graphics.
• Mentor junior technical staff and contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.

Skills

Python

MEL

C++

Animation principles

Rigging

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or related field

Tools

Autodesk Maya

Houdini

Blender

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

Technical Director, Animation Technology (Remote)

About the Role Our client, a leading innovator in digital media and animation, is seeking a highly skilled Technical Director specializing in Animation Technology. This is a fully remote position, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of animation tools and pipelines from anywhere. You will be responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of our animation production, developing and optimizing tools, and ensuring the efficient integration of cutting-edge technologies. We are looking for a problem-solver with a deep understanding of animation software, scripting, and pipeline development. The ideal candidate thrives in a remote-first, collaborative environment, possesses excellent analytical and communication skills, and has a passion for advancing animation workflows. Your expertise will be critical in enhancing our artists' capabilities, improving production efficiency, and driving innovation in animated content creation. This is an exceptional chance to make a significant technical contribution to groundbreaking projects and grow your career in a dynamic, remote setting.
Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of animation tools and pipelines.
• Optimize existing workflows for efficiency, performance, and stability.
• Collaborate with animators, artists, and engineers to understand technical needs and challenges.
• Develop custom scripts and plugins for animation software (e.g., Maya, Houdini, Blender).
• Research and integrate new technologies and software solutions.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and provide solutions to the animation team.
• Document technical processes, tools, and workflows.
• Ensure the technical quality and feasibility of animation projects.
• Stay current with advancements in animation technology and computer graphics.
• Mentor junior technical staff and contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in technical direction or pipeline development for animation or VFX.
• Expertise in scripting languages such as Python, MEL, or C++.
• Proficiency with animation software like Autodesk Maya, Houdini, or Blender.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, rigging, and character setup.
• Experience with real-time rendering technologies and game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) is a plus.
• Excellent