inXile Entertainment, a Microsoft Game Studio, is seeking a Facial Technical Artist who can help research and develop the pipeline and tools of our next generation facial animation system. Working with a talented core team on both creative and large-scale projects, the ideal candidate will have the opportunity to build and develop the framework for new character performances, pushing the quality and fidelity of our in-game characters and narrative experiences for the studio’s next-gen RPG. The Facial Technical Artist will also have the opportunity to build and develop new facial rigging pipelines across all our studios, while working in a friendly and inclusive environment that fosters collaboration, fun and learning.
Responsibilities
- Oversee and push facial rigging to the highest quality bar possible.
- Build high quality FACS based facial rigs that can be shared among multiple characters.
- Optimize facial rigs for cinematic and in game use.
- Tools authoring for generating facial rigs utilizing Python.
- Setting up facial rigs in Unreal Engine and facial animation sharing systems.
- Collaborate with the multiple departments to ensure consistent quality of the facial rigs and animations.
- Implement, troubleshoot, and debug facial animation systems and 3rd party facial animation programs.
- Iterate with animators to make the best facial rigs possible.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Animation or a similar competitive program.
- Production experience on current generation console and/or PC.
- Minimum of 5+ years of experience in rigging, primarily facial, for cinematic and in game animation, python, and well-rounded knowledge of Maya’s technical animation systems.
- An outstanding demo reel demonstrating solid understanding of FACS based facial rigging
Skills
- Strong leadership skills and communication through both dialogue and text.
- Advanced knowledge in Maya and Unreal Engine
- Advanced knowledge of facial anatomy and muscular systems
- Exceptional skill in rigging and python for the Maya API
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work closely with artists, designers and programmers.
- Superb problem-solving skills and the ability to make timely, well-thought out decisions quickly.
- Strong understanding of development issues involved in getting facial rigs set up in game.
- A passion for game development, Maya, and Unreal Engine.
Pluses:
(These are desirable skills and are not required but highly valued)
- Past animation experience to help understand the needs of the animators.
- Previous experience working on an RPG.
- Knowledge of Mel/Pymel/Pyside.