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Job Title: Senior Facial Character TD (Senior Character TD)
Summary: Responsible for authoring facial rigs from scratch or utilizing a variety of high-resolution scan-data; participate in facial research & development efforts; pioneer and recommend new tools, techniques and technology for pushing visual boundaries, performance and efficiency. Responsible for a strong understanding of FACS and facial anatomy, as well as cutting edge approaches to facial technology.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
- Authors high quality photorealistic facial rigs based on FACS using blendshapes
- Authors rigging systems to augment or support blendshape-based facial rigs
- Authors or contributes to systems/workflows for integrating head and body rigs
- Collaborates with Character Art, Animation, and Engineering teams to deliver the highest quality assets with animator/mocap friendly interfaces that run smoothly in engine
- Contributes to tools for authoring and editing facial rigs (python/pyqt/pyside)
- Contributes to automated tools and workflows for runtime optimization
- Contributes to tools for ingesting 3rd party facial rigs
- Contributes to facial animation systems such as facial solvers and R&D (python/C++/Machine Learning)
- Sculpts FACS (from scratch if necessary) using deformers and/or sculpting tools
- Processes and cleans 3D or 4D scan data from FACS sessions
- Keeps up with state-of-the-art approaches to facial rigging for photorealistic characters in film and games
- Has strong understanding of facial shape transfer techniques and ability to implement shape transfer pipelines
- May be asked to direct actors through FACS during facial acquisitions
- May ingest and integrate facial assets from 3rd parties
- May be expected to maintain relationships and provide feedback to external vendors
- Other duties may be assigned
Supervisory Responsibilities: This role has no supervisory duties but may mentor other TD’s with regard to facial mechanics, rigging, sculpting, or solving techniques.
Computer Skills: Expert-level experience withMaya. Experience sculpting details with ZBrush, Mudbox, or comparable; processing scan data with Wrap3 or comparable; with deformation transfer workflows. Preferred experience with machine-learning based solutions for facial scanning/authoring/solving (TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc); authoring plugins that aid in facial deformation transfer or solving (python or C++); and working with faces in realtime (Unity, Unreal or other).
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.