This job listing expired on Nov 29, 2022
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At Rockstar Games, we create world-class entertainment experiences.

A career at Rockstar Games is about being part of a team working on some of the most creatively rewarding and ambitious projects to be found in any entertainment medium. You would be welcomed to a dedicated and inclusive environment where you can learn, and collaborate with some of the most talented people in the industry.

Rockstar San Diego is looking for an experienced and passionate Technical Animator focused on Facial Animation to help research and develop new technology for future titles as well as improve on existing technology and tools.

This role will involve the development of new approaches and workflows within the scope of animation including both core animation as well as facial motion capture (facial tracking, facial animation, facial rigging, facial recognition). A person taking on this role will also be involved in improving pipelines currently in place as well as managing workflows for the very large number of files and assets that make up our games.

The ideal candidate will have game or VFX industry experience in a similar role working in at least one of the typical “industry-standard” DCC packages such as Motionbuilder or Maya, as well as Dynamixyz or Faceware, possess a solid understanding of object-oriented programming, and have a background working in a technical support role for animation. Bonus points for having a solid foundation in math as well as experience working with a facial motion capture pipeline.

WHAT WE DO

  • We interact closely with the Face Animation team to support animation production efforts.
  • We support Rigging pipelines, including investigations for improvement of facial rig and animation solving solutions.
  • We work with Technical Artists to maintain and improve our proprietary animation tools.
  • We create and support tools and plugins that improve our animation creation and editing workflows.
  • We collaborate effectively with other team disciplines, predominantly Animation, Tech Art and Animation Programmers for runtime solutions.
  • We bring innovation to technical problems and challenges throughout production - from content creation through to the game.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Work closely with animators, automation, and other TAs to create tools and improve pipelines that ensure the best results from our production workflows and processes.
  • Help develop and build on the facial animation and recognition pipeline.
  • Support facial pipeline and be heavily involved in face assets from motion capture.
  • Support and help develop automated solutions to process large amounts of animation data more efficiently for the animation team.
  • Support facial rigging workflow and pipeline.
  • Support and help create production tools to support new pipelines and future tech.
  • Write documentation for pipelines/tools created.
  • Stay current with and research new technology solutions.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • A degree in Computer Science / related discipline or equivalent experience in videogame or VFX industry.

SKILLS

  • Experience using 3D DCC software (Maya and/or Motionbuilder preferred).
  • Experience using a solver based face animation package (Dynamixyz or Faceware preferred).
  • Strong programming skills in Python and C#.
  • Experience creating tools for animation/animators.
  • Experience using source control software (i.e. Perforce, Git).
  • Strong communication, self-management, and organizational skills.
  • Effective time management skills to meet deadlines.
  • Experience with facial animation, facial motion capture, and/or facial tracking.
  • Solid foundation in math (specifically 3D math).
  • Strong knowledge of character setup and good rigging standards.

PLUSES

Please note that these are desirable skills and are not required to apply for the position.

  • Experience with C++ or OpenCV is a bonus.
  • Enthusiasm for R&D/future tech development with an emphasis on facial animation and facial rigging.
  • Passion for games.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply with a CV and cover-letter demonstrating how you meet the skills above. If we would like to move forward with your application, a Rockstar recruiter will reach out to you to explain next steps and guide you through the process.

Rockstar is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to hiring, promoting, and compensating employees based on their qualifications and demonstrated ability to perform job responsibilities.

If you’ve got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, or race.