3D Animator, Virtual Reality

Arizona State University•Tempe, AZ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a full-time 3D Animator – Virtual Reality opportunity with EdPlus at ASU, specifically for the Dreamscape Learn (DSL) team. DSL is a collaboration between Dreamscape Immersive and Arizona State University, focused on creating virtual reality and 2D labs and course experiences. The role involves using emerging technology tools and artificial intelligence to create new story-driven experiences, working with a team to produce high-quality key-frame animations. The position is based in Tempe, Arizona, and is an in-person, hybrid role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.
Must be able to reliably commute to Tempe, Arizona.
Applicant must be eligible to work in the United States.
A web link to an animation demo reel (required).

Nice To Haves

Experience in professional 3D animation in the game or film industry, demonstrating strong fundamentals of animation.
Experience in professional Virtual Reality development.
Experience applying motion capture to enhance performances.
Experience rigging 3D models for animation.
Demonstrated proficiency in Maya and Unity, including timeline animations.
Experience in previsualization, scene layout, and cinematography.
Experience with animation pipelines.
Experience with Shotgrid, Coda, JIRA and Confluence.
Experience with motion graphics and/or FX animation.
Experience in Adobe Premiere Pro or similar editing tools
Experience with version control software such as Perforce, PlasticSCM, Git and BitBucket.
Evidence of basic scripting skills (e.g., C#, Python, MELscript).
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple milestones and projects efficiently.
Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing creative direction.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment.
Evidence of strong organizational skills, including file management, revision tracking, documentation, and milestone-based production workflows.
Evidence of professional curiosity and willingness to learn new tools, workflows, and emerging technologies relevant to animation, VR, and immersive storytelling.
Have you ever animated in a game engine such as Unity or Unreal Engine?
Have you ever done any previsualization work including camera compositions and scene timing?

Responsibilities

Manage timing and spatial layouts within Maya and Unity.
Build interactive mock-ups and prototypes to test gameplay and narrative concepts.
Develop high-quality key-frame animations using Maya.
Manage technical 3D development and implementation within the Unity engine.
Partner with the Lead Animator and production teams to meet project milestones.
Interpret and execute creative feedback from leadership and project stakeholders.
Identify technical constraints and provide feasibility recommendations for complex VR scenes.
Work in a high-speed, iterative environment to refine animation concepts.
Mentor student workers to foster professional growth.
Assume or coordinate other duties or projects as assigned or directed.