Technical Artist, Rigging/Animation

We are seeking a talented and experienced Character Rigger/Animator to join our team of tech artists in creating lifelike and expressive characters for our video games. The ideal candidate should have expertise in rigging and animating faces in Maya. The role involves setting up, rigging, animating, and maintaining bone-driven facial features for characters in Maya that are runtime compatible. The candidate will collaborate with the character modeling team to ensure facial rigging is compatible with character models and create rigs that satisfy animation and game engine requirements. Additionally, they will optimize facial rigs for performance and efficiency in-game and stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and tools for facial rigging and animation.

• Setup, rig, animate, and maintain bone-driven facial features for characters in Maya that are runtime compatible
• Collaborate with the character modeling team to ensure facial rigging is compatible with character models and create rigs that satisfy animation and game engine requirements
• Develop new techniques and processes to create realistic and expressive facial animations while advancing quality
• Optimize facial rigs for performance and efficiency in-game
• Stay up-to-date with the latest techniques and tools for facial rigging and animation
• Design, build, and test advanced animation rigs, setups, systems, and workflows
• Assist in the development and maintenance of systems and workflows for animating and rigging characters, including writing scripts to facilitate art production when required
• Consult in the development of breakdowns, task lists, estimates, schedules, milestones, and overall project goals
• Participate in project stand-ups, meetings, and reviews
• Provide technical support and expertise as a Technical Artist-Rigger or Technical Animator for AAA game development
• Utilize procedural rigging systems such as AdvancedSkeleton5 and mGear in Maya for rigging and animating facial features
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of anatomy, kinematics, deformation, and facial expressions
• Solve problems effectively and communicate efficiently
• Collaborate with other artists and developers
• Pay attention to detail and deliver high-quality work within deadlines
• Stay updated on industry standard tools and systems, and explore new techniques for skeletons, facial animation methodologies, and constraints used for character animation
• Possess scripting knowledge, including Maya Python/PyMEL, C++ API, and PySide/PyQt GUI design experience
• Understand the real-time art production pipeline and process for different types of asset creation, including potential pitfalls and risks involved with movement mechanics and deformation
• Integrate performance capture animation for both body and face
• Work with run-time, blend-tree based animation systems
• Apply in-depth knowledge of character/prop rigging techniques and principles
• Familiarize oneself with multi-platform performance efficiency and optimization
• Bonus: Experience working with web3 technologies and blockchain
• Bonus: Experience with Unreal, Unity, or other game engines
• Bonus: Keyframe animation experience
• Bonus: 3D modeling, animation, and texturing skills

• 5+ years experience as a Technical Artist-Rigger or Technical Animator role for AAA game development, directly supporting the production with rigging, scripting & tool development
• Strong experience in rigging and animating facial features using procedural rigging systems such as AdvancedSkeleton5 and mGear in Maya
• Strong understanding of anatomy, kinematics, deformation and facial expressions
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with other artists and developers
• Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality work within deadlines
• Up to date on the industry standard tools and systems (in Unreal Engine, Maya, MotionBuilder, Houdini, etc.) and constantly curious about promising new techniques for skeletons, facial animation methodologies, and constraints used for character animation
• Excellent working knowledge of scripting - Maya Python/PyMEL, C++ API, and PySide/PyQt GUI design experience
• Knowledgeable of the real-time art production pipeline & process for different types of asset creation - especially of potential pitfalls and other risks involved with movement mechanics & deformation
• Extensive experience with integration of performance capture animation for both body & face
• Experience with run-time, blend-tree based animation systems
• In-depth knowledge of character/prop rigging techniques and principles
• Familiarity with multi-platform performance efficiency and optimization
• Bonus: Experience working with web3 technologies and blockchain
• Bonus: Experience with Unreal, Unity or other game engines
• Bonus: Keyframe Animation Experience
• Bonus: 3D modeling, animation and texturing skills a strong plus

• 100% remote work
• Localized comprehensive health benefits
• Monthly stipends for wellness, co-working, and mobile/internet service
• Flexible Time Off, localized paid holidays, & Winter Recess (December 24-January 1)
• A vibrant community of Employee Resource Groups (Women at Yuga, Blackchain3, Queer3)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Localized retirement plans