Vfx Rigger

Summary

Join Zoic Studios, an artist-owned VFX company, as a 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 other artists, and troubleshooting technical issues. The ideal candidate possesses 3-5 years of feature film CG rigging experience, proficiency in Maya and Python, and a strong understanding of 3D math and animation principles. This is a contract position starting immediately, working on an exciting stop-motion animated feature project.

Requirements

• 3-5 years of feature film CG rigging experience
• 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
• Understanding of Motion Capture integration for rigs and related workflows
• 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, and maintain technical documentation
• 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 technical directors regarding asset performance expectations, pipeline compatibility and deadlines

Preferred Qualifications

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

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: $40 - $55 (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)