Senior VFX Rigger

Summary

Join Zoic Studios, an artist-owned VFX company, as a Senior VFX Rigger! This role offers the flexibility to work remotely from British Columbia or in our Vancouver studio. You will be responsible for creating, maintaining, and improving high-level rigs, collaborating with various departments, and contributing to a stop-motion animated feature project. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience in CG/VFX rigging, strong Python and Maya skills, and a deep understanding of animation pipelines. This position provides a chance to work on exciting projects and contribute to a creative and collaborative team.

Requirements

• 5 years of CG/Visual Effects feature rigging experience on theatrically released films
• Strong knowledge of rigging in Maya, Python, Maya node networks, how they relate to rigging, and how to effectively debug at a node/connection level
• Proven ability developing Python scripts, tools and/or C++ plugins within a CG animation pipeline
• Strong understanding of Motion Capture integration for rigs and related workflows
• Strong understanding of scripted rig build systems, animation/rigging pipelines and manual rigging techniques
• Experience building a wide variety of rigs (organic/mechanical/prop/body/face/costume, etc.)
• 3D math knowledge and strong understanding of geometry, kinematics and deformation
• Proficiency working in a Linux environment
• All applicants must be residents of British Columbia, Canada
• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada ie. Citizen, PR, Open Work Permit

Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, improve and support rigs through production, including any necessary scripts and tools to facilitate any animation requests
• Ability to create and maintain the existing Python code base used in rig creation
• Develop flexible and rebuildable rig modules that integrate with the existing Python code base
• Work across multiple departments such as modeling, animation and character effects in order to trouble shoot creative and technical issues
• Perform modeling and animation tasks for rig development, as needed
• Work with crowd team to support rigging needs for large crowds, and work with the motion capture expectations to support rigging needs for shoots
• Communicate effectively with production and leadership regarding asset performance expectations, pipeline compatibility and deadlines
• Assist to ensure the team meets production deadlines as established by production
• Assist with mentoring, training and development of talent within the department

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in visual arts/design with a strong understanding of form and movement
• Modeling skills and ability to understand and troubleshoot polygonal mesh flow for deformation
• MEL, PyQt, bash
• Expertise running cloth, nCloth and hair simulation

Benefits

• At this time, we’re pleased to offer this role as an option to work from home OR work from our Vancouver studio in the beautiful Gastown area, close to the Waterfront Station in Downtown. (Remote is not available outside of BC; there is no hybrid)
• British Columbia Employees Pay Range: $45 - $65 (The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position)