Senior Technical Animator

Our client, a leading developer of immersive entertainment experiences, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Technical Animator. This role is crucial for bridging the gap between character animation and game engine implementation, ensuring that character movements are not only visually compelling but also performant and responsive within the game world. You will be responsible for creating advanced character rigs, developing animation systems, optimizing animation performance, and collaborating with animators and programmers to bring characters to life.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of anatomy, motion, rigging, and the technical constraints of real-time engines. This position operates on a hybrid model, combining collaborative sessions in our cutting-edge studio in Paarl, Western Cape, ZA , with the flexibility of remote work. You will play a vital role in defining the fidelity and dynamism of character performances.

• Develop, maintain, and optimize character rigs and animation systems for game engines.
• Collaborate closely with character animators to ensure rigs support a wide range of motion and emotional expression.
• Implement and integrate character animations into the game engine, ensuring correct functionality and performance.
• Work with programmers to develop and refine animation tools and pipelines.
• Profile and debug animation performance issues, identifying and resolving bottlenecks.
• Create animation prototypes and proof-of-concepts to explore new techniques and possibilities.
• Ensure character animations meet the technical specifications and artistic vision of the project.
• Provide technical guidance and support to the animation team.
• Document rigging and animation systems and workflows.
• Stay updated on the latest advancements in character animation technology and game engine capabilities.

• Extensive professional experience as a Technical Animator in the game industry, with a strong portfolio demonstrating advanced rigging, animation implementation, and optimization skills.
• Expertise in character rigging using software such as Maya or 3ds Max.
• Proficiency with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and their animation systems (e.g., Blueprints, Mecanim).
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character performance, and biomechanics.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL) for automating rigging and animation tasks.
• Knowledge of character controllers, state machines, and animation blending techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively in a hybrid setting.
• Strong communication skills to effectively convey technical concepts to artistic and engineering teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Graphics, Animation, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience with physics simulation and cloth dynamics is a plus.
• A passion for creating believable and engaging character performances.

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, and a performance-based bonus structure.
• Employees benefit from a dynamic and collaborative studio environment, along with a flexible hybrid work arrangement.
• Opportunities for professional development, including attending industry conferences and specialized training, are readily available.
• We also offer a retirement savings plan and generous paid time off.

Join our innovative team and help shape the future of character animation in Paarl, Western Cape, ZA .