Lead Technical Animator

Company Description

Ubisoft’s 20,000 team members, working across more than 30 countries around the world, are bound by a common mission to enrich players’ lives with original and memorable gaming experiences. Their dedication and talent have brought to life many acclaimed franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Just Dance, Rainbow Six, and many more to come. Ubisoft is an equal opportunity employer that believes diverse backgrounds and perspectives are key to creating worlds where both players and teams can thrive and express themselves. If you are excited about solving game-changing challenges, cutting edge technologies and pushing the boundaries of entertainment, we invite you to join our journey and help us create the unknown.

Job Description

Red Storm Entertainment has an exciting opportunity for a talented Lead Technical Animator to join our teams! We are looking for a Technical Animator with a blend of strong technical skills in rigging/programming, as well as a good artistic sense. At RSE, TAs are challenged to not only create incredible rigs but to ensure optimal performance and look in game engines.

We welcome people working in our studio in Cary, North Carolina, or remotely within the continental US.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Work directly with Character, Weapon and Animation teams to define and create the best rigs, control interfaces, tools and workflows for a wide range of styles and art directions.
• Collaborate with our development partner studios across the world in the development of asset pipelines.
• Create the tools and establish the pipeline for rigging characters and getting key frame animations or motion capture data to create high quality simple to complex biped and quadruped animation sets.
• Be proactive – Work effectively with Animators and Character artists so that they are aware of concerns and issues dealing with animation production.
• Be self-driven – Produce work in an efficient and timely manner, adhering to an agreed-upon schedule.
• Be diligent – Insure quality of related assets by maintaining responsibility over animations tools and pipeline throughout the projects development including fixing bugs, assigned by project leads.
• Provide support to games in production – Contribute to the success of the team, and the studio, through your personal contribution to the product.
• Provide team/company support – Each team member is expected to provide feedback on ideas, features, game-play, and process.
• Document pipeline and tools development processes.
• Inspire and empower the art team to optimize their processes.

Qualifications

• Experience designing, creating and supporting complex character, facial and weapon rigs.
• Experience building tools to improve animation, rigging and / or character pipelines.
• Able to own the skinning process for a variety of creatures, characters, garments, and gear.
• Extensive knowledge of Python and DCC tools APIs.
• Experience working with outsourcing agencies for mocap/rigging.
• Good understanding of real time animation systems and game console. constraints.
• Experience using motion capture systems.
• Key Frame Animation Experience.
• Knowledge of Motion Builder.
• 3D modeling and texturing skills a strong plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills-able to interact with team members of different disciplines.

Additional Information

WHAT YOU'LL GET:

• Heavily subsidized paid medical and dental insurance for employees and dependents.
• Paid life and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• 401(k) plan with match.
• New hires start with 4 weeks of vacation annually, increasing to a cap of 5 weeks based on years of service along with 3 additional weeks of wellness time.
• 10 paid holidays (and we’re closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day).
• 12 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Rocket Lawyer online legal service membership.
• Body-Mind-Soul monthly reimbursement program for eligible activities.
• Strong, incentivized, employee referral program.
• Flexible work schedule.
• Access to all of the latest Ubisoft games for PC.
• Generous discount on new Ubisoft games.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

MORE ABOUT US

Ubisoft offers the same job opportunities to all, without any distinction of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, social status, disability, or age. Ubisoft ensures the development of an inclusive work environment which mirrors the diversity of our gamers’ community.

Red Storm Entertainment and Ubisoft are committed to making our own active contribution to global carbon neutrality. In September 2020, we implemented a long-term commitment called Play Green acts on two key priorities:

Reduce the company’s carbon footprint by decarbonizing our direct operations on 4 levers: transition to renewable energy, efficiency, self-restraint and shift towards low carbon alternatives. Inspire team members, partners and players by raising awareness our stakeholders and encouraging positive action for the climate and the environment.

We do not accept any unsolicited resumes submitted by staffing or placement agencies or recruiters.