Senior Technical Animator & VFX Artist

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Technical Animator & VFX Artist to join their vibrant game development studio located in George
. This role is critical for bringing characters and environments to life through sophisticated animation and captivating visual effects. The ideal candidate will possess a strong command of animation principles, rigging, skinning, and the creation of dynamic visual effects for real-time environments. You will work at the intersection of art and technology, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in game graphics.

This position demands a keen eye for detail, a passion for storytelling through movement and visuals, and the ability to collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team. You'll be responsible for establishing technical animation pipelines, ensuring character performance is optimized and visually stunning, and creating breathtaking visual effects that enhance gameplay immersion. The George studio provides a unique coastal setting conducive to creativity and innovation.

You will play a key role in defining the visual fidelity and interactive performance of our projects, contributing directly to the success of our flagship titles.

• Develop, implement, and maintain advanced character rigging and skinning systems.
• Create high-quality character animations, including locomotion, combat, and facial animations.
• Design and implement compelling visual effects (VFX) for gameplay, cinema tics, and environmental elements.
• Collaborate with game designers and artists to define the aesthetic and technical requirements for animations and VFX.
• Optimize animation and VFX assets for performance and memory usage across target platforms.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to animation, rigging, and VFX.
• Mentor junior technical artists and animators, fostering a culture of learning and excellence.
• Contribute to the development of animation and VFX pipelines and tools.
• Ensure consistency in animation quality and visual style throughout the project.
• Work closely with the engine team to ensure seamless integration of art assets.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in technical animation and/or VFX for video games.
• Proficiency in 3D animation software (e.g., Maya, 3ds Max) and rigging tools.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, kinematics, and character rigging techniques.
• Expertise in VFX creation tools (e.g., Houdini, Ember Gen, Unity VFX Graph, Unreal Niagara).
• Experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for tool development is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities.
• A portfolio demonstrating exceptional technical animation and VFX work.
• Experience in a senior or lead role is advantageous.

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous annual leave and public holiday allocation.
• Professional development opportunities, including conference attendance.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and software.
• A stimulating and collaborative studio environment in beautiful George
  .
• Potential for overtime pay and project completion bonuses.
• Company-sponsored social events and team-building activities.
• Opportunity to work on critically acclaimed and commercially successful titles.