Sr. Designer/Animator

Komatsu is an indispensable partner to the construction, mining, forestry, forklift, and industrial machinery markets, maximizing value for customers through innovative solutions. With a diverse line of products supported by our advanced IoT technologies, regional distribution channels, and a global service network, we tap into the power of data and technology to enhance safety and productivity while optimizing performance. Komatsu supports a myriad of markets, including housing, infrastructure, water, pipeline, minerals, automobile, aerospace, electronics and medical, through its many brands and subsidiaries, including TimberPro, Joy, P&H, Montabert, Modular Mining Systems, Hensley Industries, NTC, and Gigaphoton.

Job Overview

• Take lead on animation projects, working closely with the creative studio manager
• Develop and implement overall look of animation projects
• Work with 2D / 3D Generalist and Animation Specialist to create content for internal business partners
• Set and keep quality standards for animation and interactive projects
• Research and apply emerging technologies to drive animation and interactive process improvements
• Create animation and interactive content, ensuring deadlines are met and that programs meet the required standard from inception to delivery

Key Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement cutting edge creative for all animation projects
• Coordinate with (internal and external) customers, multiple multimedia project timelines and resources
• Coordinate with creative studio manager on all animation and interactive outsourcing endeavors, including fostering ongoing vendor relationships to deliver consistent, exceptional quality;
• Take point on all internal animation and creative studio meetings for Animation projects
• Attend creative meetings for tradeshow planning and product marketing
• Create and coordinate animation and interactive production schedules
• Coordinate hardware, software and equipment needs/purchases for the animation team
• Help junior animators with creative implimentation
• Help the team balance their creative desires with the requirements of the production, keeping them on task and on timelines
• 2D and 3D animation
• Research new 3D animation rendering solutions
• Motion graphics, compositing and post production work
• Interactive content development through professional game engine technology
• Establish and manage interactive deployment pipelines (AR / VR)
• Support technology at events and trade shows

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree with a focus in animation or game art production
• 4-6 years of experience as 3D animator, 2D Designer, UI/UX Designer
• Excellent communication skills - team communication and visual planning
• Project management, understanding and leveraging all the tools, software, people and resources necessary to execute multiple complex projects simultaneously including;
  • 3D CAD Model Conversion and Optimization
  • 3D Animation - modeling, texturing, technical rigging, lighting, animation
  • Motion Graphics
  • VFX
  • Compositing
  • Interactive Application Development and Hardware Requirements
  • Vendor Management
• Strong sense of design and creativity - Art direction and concepting at the highest level. Strong understanding of how to bring technical equipment to life visually across multiple platforms.
• Exceptional technical and artistic ability. Strong sense of timing and mechanical function
• Understanding of business processes and customer needs (both internally and externally)
• Software skills required (high mastery):
  • Adobe Creative Cloud, speficically After Effects, Photoshop, and Premiere
  • Autodesk 3Ds Max and Maya
  • Cinema 4D
  • Blender
  • Real Time Rendering programs (Unreal or Unity)
  • Cloud based 3D rendering platforms
  • Substance Painter
  • Unity 3D (AR and VR development)
  • Xcode
  • Apple App Development
  • RenderPal or another render manager
  • MS Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • MS O365
  • MAC / Windows OS
• Working knowledge of C++, C#, MEL or equivalent
• Preferences:
  • Experience in a large, global organization (preferably manufacturing, auto, or heavy industries)

Additional Information

Komatsu is an Equal Opportunity Workplace and an Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.