Senior Lead Technical Animator

Senior Lead Technical Animator*This role is preferred to be located out of our Toronto, ON or Austin, TX Studio Locations* But is also available to work remotely out of our approved remote locations in the US and Canada.ResponsibilitiesProficient at Python scripting, rigging, and tool developmentDrive the pipeline and tools discussion for the tech animation teamSeek ways to improve and streamline art pipelines, enhance quality, and increase team efficiencySetting up rigs and overseeing the skinning process for a multitude of assets such as characters, creatures, weapons, props, etcSetting up runtime solutions for characters and assets in the Unreal Engine, such as control rig, cloth, dynamics, blueprints etc.R&D of new technology for DCC or engine contentPush the boundaries of aesthetic quality while respecting and enforcing project performance constraintsWork closely with other senior members in various disciplines, such as animation, character art, concept, and tech art.Collaborate with tech animators on the team and be a source of inspiration and knowledge in order to mentor junior coworkersCarry out key department responsibilities that include team leadership, 1-1's, interviewing, hiring, and training employees, reviewing work for quality, and appraising performance and resolving issuesRequirements5+ years experience in rigging and skinning characters, creatures, vehicles, and propsExpert-level proficiency with Autodesk Maya and MotionBuilderStrong foundation of Python scripting for extending content creation tools and automating tasksActively stay on top of industry trends, technology and techniques and evaluate the impact on current pipelines and processesStrong mentorship abilitiesStrong communication skills and desire to collaborate with art, design, and engineeringExperience in ramping up an animation team in a variety of engines and toolsetsExperience with motion capture systemsExtra CreditAnimation key-framingKnowledge of C++ or C#Experience writing Maya plug-insStrong knowledge of facial rigging and deformation