Senior Technical Animator - Unannounced Project

About the role

<div class="content-intro"><p><strong>Who We Are:</strong></p> <p>At NaturalMotion, we make games that wow people. We innovate to create previously impossible experiences that would not exist without us. We take pride in making titles that reach a large audience and creating communities that last. <span data-ogsc="rgb(38, 38, 38)" data-ogsb="white">Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as one of the UK's Best Places to Work in games for eight consecutive years by&nbsp;gamesindustry.biz, and we're proud to be part of the Zynga and Take-Two Interactive family.</span></p></div><h4><strong>Position Overview:</strong></h4> <p>We are looking for a Senior Technical Animator to join our team in supporting our next unannounced project. You will work alongside the Animation Team helping to deliver and bring to life our amazing characters.</p> <p>We embrace a hybrid work environment. Within this role, you would work 2 days per week in our London office and the remaining days at home.</p> <h4><strong>What You'll Do:</strong></h4> <ul> <li>Responsible for creating and maintaining the rigging and technical animation pipeline for the projects.</li> <li>As part of the Animation Team, you will play a key role in implementing characters.</li> <li>Reporting to the Lead Animator and Art Director.</li> </ul> <h4><strong>What You Bring:</strong></h4> <ul> <li>Demonstrate expert knowledge of the skeletal pipeline from Rigging to exporting finalised characters into game, with a speciality of understanding mobile limitations (both bipedal and non-bipedal).</li> <li>Expert in how animation systems work in Unreal Engine, debug, modify and being able to create them in game engines from scratch.</li> <li>Have expert knowledge of retargeting and shared skeleton pipeline, both in and out of engine and can expand into retargeting between non matching skeletons.</li> <li>Understand the setup of cloth sim and dynamics in both Engine and 3D software, the application of such and the requirements and limitations of its use on mobile.</li> <li>Proficient in 3D software relevant scripting languages; MEL, Python, Max Script, etc.</li> <li>Foundational knowledge of rigging; using bones, IK, Splines, Blend Shapes, Skinning, node editing and setting up animation blueprints in Unreal.</li> <li>Have advanced knowledge of major third party rigging systems used in the industry; Advanced Skeleton, Rapid Rig, mGear etc.</li> <li>Experience in animation systems that are scalable and able to work on a wide range of mobile devices.</li> <li>Complete ownership of pipeline with good documentation and communication.</li> </ul> <h4><strong>Bonus Points:&nbsp;</strong></h4> <ul> <li>Premium character presentation pipelines - build and own animation systems for high-value front-end moments, ensuring characters are always presented at a premium quality bar.</li> <li>Automated optimization techniques for the creation of LODs.</li> <li>Support a fast paced character pipeline in the delivery of characters per season.</li> <li>Able to demonstrate knowledge of Facial Rigging processes, game engine compatible solutions and how to implement them.</li> <li>Experience with motion capture, cleanup and application to different characters.</li> <li>Knowledge of procedural animation systems.</li> <li>Experience in other areas of technical art e.g. Shaders, Lighting Tech, VFX.</li> </ul> <h4><strong>What We Offer You:&nbsp;</strong></h4> <ul> <li>Competitive salary and discretionary annual bonus scheme</li> <li>26 days holiday, plus bank holidays &amp; 2 paid personal days</li> <li>6 months fully paid maternity/adoption leave and 16 weeks fully paid paternity leave (eligibility criteria applies)</li> <li>Pension plan, with a double matching employer contribution&nbsp;</li> <li>Private medical &amp; dental insurance and healthcare cash plan</li> <li>Life insurance, personal accident insurance and income protection</li> <li>Mental health and neurodiversity support programs</li> <li>C

Skills