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Lead Technical Animator
4 years ago
JOB TITLE: Lead Technical Animator
LOCATION: Novato, US
FUNCTION: Art/Animation
REPORTS TO: Art Director
CONTRACT: Perm
What We Need:
We are looking for a talented lead technical animator who is adept at problem solving for unexpected and unique challenges that come with proprietary tech. In addition, you can act as a hub and facilitator of technical knowledge for Engineering, Design, and Art.
What You Will Do:
- Collaborate with technical artists and establish pipeline and procedures.
- Manage technical artists, mentor and guide the team.
- Create Animation and Art tools for artists and animators.
- Own all aspects of the animation export pipeline
- Work with TDs to integrate final character rigs in game
- Manage the online Animation database, including cleaning up of obsolete data
- Communicate with Design and Engineering to better anticipate and advise on animation related technical issues
- Help generate and setup assets needed for the game’s animation systems. This includes overlays, mirror tables, and templates.
- Occasional creation of visual scripts for world interactions
- Work with animators to resolve any roadblocks to their workflow
Who We Think Will Be A Good Fit:
- You are someone who can see the bigger picture, but also not lose track of the nitty gritty details. Someone who is comfortable planning expandable pipelines, as well as implementing ad hoc fixes that are needed for rapid prototyping. But, also quick to learn about and integrate new systems and tech. Most importantly you are responsive, self-initiating, and work well with others.
- Experienced in a lead position managing technical artists.
- Expert with character rigging/skinning/setup
- Degree in Computer Animation, Computer Science or related experience.
- 7+ years’ experience working with animation game systems.
- Expert in an industry standard scripting language
- Solid knowledge of Python, C#, C++, Java, etc.
- Worked with runtime animation systems such as layers, blend trees, rigging
- 1-3 Shipped AAA games.
- Expert knowledge of Maya or Motionbuilder.
- Strong creative and technical problem solving skills.
- Exceptional communication skills
- Ability to work independently in a team environment.
- Ability to communicate and collaborate across multiple locations effectively
Nice to Haves:
- Comfortable with version control software, particularly Perforce
- Familiar with asset/ Task tracking clients like JIRA and Shotgun
- Familiar with Havok and or FBX SDK
- Familiar with widely used animation techniques
Who We Are:
Hangar 13 is the internal 2K development studio behind the award-winning Mafia III. The studio is comprised of industry veterans drawn from a diverse range of studios, who have collectively shipped hundreds of titles across a wide variety of genres. Though we hail from all over the world, and our backgrounds are wildly different, one thing binds us all together – the belief that “Every Player’s Story is Unique.”
Hangar 13 is based in four locations: Novato (California), Brighton (UK), and Brno & Prague (Czech Republic).
We work collaboratively across our 4 locations to develop games as one global team. Each of our locations provides the opportunity to work on big-budget, AAA console in a diverse and inclusive environment!
Located just 30 minutes north of San Francisco and 30 minutes south of Napa Valley wine country, Hangar 13’s Novato location has found its home within 2K’s headquarters in Northern California. Situated in Hamilton Landing inside a renovated United States Air Force base hangar, you will find our talented and passionate team within invigorating Marin County. You can walk out the door and explore famous hiking and mountain biking trails as well as the gorgeous coastline. In addition to working in an exceptional setting conducive to Hangar 13’s inclusive and creatively diverse work environment, the Bay Area also provides employees with access to vibrant nightlife, world-class cuisine, local farmers markets, great public schools, and cultural metropolitan experiences. Onsite amenities include fully equipped break areas, company sponsored food trucks and raffle prizes, new state of the art gym, subsidized fitness classes and massage therapy, electric car charging stations and much more! We are only 5 minutes off of highway 101 and a 15-minute walk from the nearest SMART station.
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