Lead Technical Animator - Character Motion Systems

About the Role Our client, a leading studio recognized for its visually stunning interactive experiences, is seeking an experienced Lead Technical Animator to join their team in
** Randburg, Gauteng**. This critical role bridges the gap between character artistry and animation implementation, focusing on building robust motion systems and ensuring high-quality character performance within the game engine. You will lead a team of technical animators, collaborate closely with character artists and animators, and develop innovative solutions for character locomotion, facial animation, and blend-tree creation. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of animation principles, rigging, scripting, and real-time engine workflows.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the animation pipeline and enhance the believability of characters in our ambitious projects.

• Lead and mentor a team of technical animators, overseeing their workflow and development.
• Develop and maintain sophisticated character animation systems and pipelines for real-time engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
• Create and optimize animation blend trees, state machines, and IK/FK systems.
• Collaborate with character artists and riggers to ensure deform-stable rigs suitable for complex animations.
• Work closely with animators to implement and polish character performances, ensuring they meet technical and artistic requirements.
• Develop tools and scripts to enhance animator efficiency and automate repetitive tasks.
• Profile and optimize animation performance to ensure smooth frame rates and responsiveness.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to character animation and engine integration.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in animation technology, rigging, and real-time engines.
• Conduct technical reviews of animation assets and provide constructive feedback.

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in technical animation or a related field within the game industry.
• Proven experience in a lead or senior technical animation role.
• Strong understanding of animation principles, character rigging, and skinning.
• Proficiency with real-time engines such as Unreal Engine (Blueprints, Control Rig) or Unity.
• Expertise in Maya, and experience with animation-related scripting languages (e.g., Python, MEL).
• Experience creating and implementing complex animation systems (e.g., inverse kinematics, blend trees, state machines).
• Solid understanding of performance optimization for animation data.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to diagnose and fix complex technical issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective team collaboration.
• A portfolio demonstrating technical animation skills, pipeline contributions, and system design is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Computer Graphics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

• Competitive annual salary of ZAR.
• Hybrid work model offering excellent flexibility.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Company-sponsored retirement plan.
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Opportunities for professional development, conferences, and training.
• Work on critically acclaimed and exciting game titles.
• Performance-based bonuses and rewards.
• Relocation assistance available for exceptional candidates.
• Vibrant studio culture with regular team events.