Senior Character Technical Director at Visual Concepts

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Novato, CA

At Visual Concepts, we believe great games are made by diverse and empowered teams with a shared passion for play. As one of the world’s top game development studios, we have shipped over 100 multi-sku titles to critical acclaim and commercial success. Our teams are independent and entrepreneurial. Our studios in Agoura Hills, Novato, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, Budapest, Shanghai, Austin, Boise, Seoul, and Parksville, Canada are committed to artistry and technical innovation, offering top candidates the opportunity to learn and grow with some of the smartest and most creative minds in the industry.

What We Need:

Our Novato, CA studio is seeking a Senior Character Technical Director, reporting to the Art Director. As a Senior Character Technical Director at Visual Concepts, you will play a crucial role in enhancing our character rigs through your expertise in Unreal Engine and proficiency in scripting and coding. You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams, including artists and programmers, to create efficient tools, systems, and workflows that empower our creative vision.

What You Will Do:

Develop and maintain character rigs for faces, bodies, clothing, and accessories using Maya and the Unreal Editor
Collaborate with artists and engineers to understand technical and artistic requirements and implement tools and processes that streamline content creation and enhance productivity
Work with the Pipeline Technical Director to propagate rig techniques across hundreds of player models in game
Collaborate with the animation team to ensure character rigs maintain sufficient controls for motion capture editing
Collaborate with character modeling team to ensure character deformation and silhouette maintains fidelity across a variety of athletic poses
Collaborate with Art Director to ensure simulation of uniforms, casual clothing, accessories, etc meet artistic and performance requirements
Rig real-time hair for characters, including deformation and simulation setups
Maintain existing and legacy character setups as well as designing, prototyping, and iterating on new ones
Troubleshoot technical challenges related to art and animation, providing solutions that bridge the gap between artistic vision and technical implementation
Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, tools, and techniques to continuously enhance our character setup processes

Who Will Be A Great Fit:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Game Development, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
5+ years in the games or VFX industry as a Technical Artist, Character TD, rigger or similar role, with a strong focus on character rigging and/or simulation
2+ years production experience in Unreal Engine and a strong understanding of blueprint, control rig, corrective shapes, pose driver
2+ years of hands-on experience with Maya
Solid programming skills in scripting languages such as Python
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to find innovative solutions to technical challenges
Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across different departments
Experience with version control systems such as Git or Perforce