Character TD - Microsoft Studios - Rare

Job description

Character TD

Role

At Rare we are passionate about building the best teams and developing the most exciting, innovative projects.   That’s why we are excited to announce that we are looking for a Character TD to join our team.   We’re looking for someone with expertise in rigging Creatures and Characters and is passionate about story based games.   The Character TD will work very closely with our Animation and Character team to build rigs and tools, define process and integration in to the chosen engine.   As part of the extended leadership group, they will also help evangelise the projects and build out the Rigging and Character team.   This role requires someone who is happy solving difficult technical problems, is hands on with using the Unreal engine and great with people.

Key Responsibilities

•      Create high quality rigs, systems, control interfaces, tools and workflows for a wide range of characters – from humans to creatures

•      Owner of the skinning process for all art assets generated internally and externally

•      Write and maintain scripts in Python to support animation of characters, props

•      Insure quality by maintaining responsibility over animations tools and pipeline throughout the projects development

•      Document pipeline and tools development processes for internal and external use

•      Keep abreast of new trends and new technologies in the industry and how they could be applied to improve the output of the character/animation team in the future

•      Drive cross-discipline collaboration and communication within the studio

Required Experience & Qualifications

•      At least four full project cycle designing, creating and supporting character, facial, creature, prop rigs

•      Experience in improving animation, rigging and/or character pipelines

•      Good understanding of human anatomy: skin, fascia, muscles, skeleton

•      A concise and well thought out show reel demonstrating great rigging skills with a range of characters/creatures

•      Experience with muscle, hair and cloth systems and physics systems

•      Good understanding of real time animation systems and in game constraints

•      Solid Knowledge of one or programming/Scripting languages such as Python/C#/C++/HLSL

•      Deep knowledge of 3D creation packages (Maya/Max/Zbrush/etc)

•      Solid knowledge of how 3D graphics and deformation techniques are implemented.

•      Team Management experience

Desired Characteristics

•      Creature rigging experience

•      Animation skills

•      Experience with Havok or Morpheme

•      Experience with motion capture systems

•      Understanding of Animation software such as Motion Builder

•      Excellent communication skills

•      Well-organised and proactive

•      Open and honest, whilst being considerate of others