This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Technical Animator based in Canada.
Join a distributed AAA game development environment where technical creativity and innovation help bring ambitious game worlds to life. As a Senior Technical Animator, you will shape and maintain character animation pipelines, creating high-quality rigs and skinning solutions for characters, creatures, and props. You will work closely with artists, animators, and technical leads to ensure assets meet project requirements and integrate smoothly into production. The role combines advanced Maya expertise, Python development, technical problem-solving, and research into new tools and workflows. You will also contribute to technical standards, mentor teammates, and help deliver polished gameplay experiences across multiple projects.
Accountabilities:
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Establish and maintain production and software pipelines, coordinating with the team lead to meet project deadlines.
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Create high-quality rigs and skinning solutions for characters, creatures, and props that support the artistic and technical needs of each project.
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Independently implement character rigging in Maya, including cloth, hair, and physics setups.
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Develop new rigging systems and retargeting tools to support transitions from legacy rigs to updated systems.
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Collaborate with modelers and animators to ensure efficient workflows and high-quality production assets.
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Share ownership of pipeline tools and work with engine and project leads to continuously improve technical capabilities.
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Ensure team deliverables meet established technical standards, providing clean assets and reliable code.
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Lead research and development initiatives, improve pipelines and workflows, and implement lessons learned through project reviews.
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Resolve complex technical issues and challenging bugs.
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Share expertise and provide guidance to less experienced team members.
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Occasionally support recruitment activities and contribute to onboarding new hires.
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At least five years of experience in technical animation or a closely related field.
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Experience contributing to the full production cycle of at least two game titles.
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Strong Python programming skills and familiarity with Houdini.
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Expert-level knowledge of Autodesk Maya, particularly rigging and skinning.
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Strong understanding of anatomy, character movement, and topology requirements for both legacy and new 3D models.
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Experience with facial rigging for games, television, or film.
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Practical experience with physics simulations, including cloth, hair, and other simulated elements.
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Familiarity with Maya-based art export and production pipelines, particularly character- and animation-related workflows.
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Ability to provide clear technical feedback and maintain effective documentation for tasks, rigs, and toolsets.
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Awareness of current and emerging technologies and trends in the video game industry.
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Self-motivation, strong problem-solving abilities, and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
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Fully employer-paid benefits package, with insurance reimbursing eligible claims at 100%, up to $1,000 per service annually; individual and family coverage options are available.
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Comprehensive dental coverage, including major dental services.
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4% RRSP matching, with contributions fully vested from the first day.
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One paid week off during the winter holidays.
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20 paid vacation days and 5 paid sick days.
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Complimentary virtual healthcare and mental well-being sessions for employees and their eligible dependents.
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Personal and professional development opportunities.
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Opportunity to collaborate with a creative, passionate, and globally distributed team.
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Fully remote position in Canada.