Lead Technical Animator - [Avatar Project] (f/m/d)

Ubisoft German Studios
Germany, Düsseldorf, Germany
Job type: Permanent

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Job Description

The Lead Animator is responsible for leading and managing the Animation and Technical Animation teams in our project, setting objectives for both short and long term, driving quality standards and collaborating with Directors to deliver AAA game experiences.

Primary Objectives 

  • Collaborate with the Art Director, Technical Art Director and Animation Director to create animations that fit to the visual style of the project and set a new benchmark on animation quality for the team.
  • Define, prioritize, assign and regularly follow up on tasks and the advancement of the team’s work with regards to deliverables together with production.
  • Provide support and feedback for internal animation team and the technical animators.
  • Establish animation standards and provide feedback for animation outsourcing.
  • Collaborate with Tech Artists to improve existing and prototype future animation pipelines.
  • Collaborate with design teams and programming teams to develop gameplay features.
  • Quickly prototype animation systems that will serve as a basis for animation and gameplay-related discussions
  • Be the main point of contact for other teams and represent the team

    Specific Tasks:
     
  • Provide knowledge and solutions for animation problems
  • Cooperation with other Ubisoft teams all around the world on a daily basis
  • Provide support and advice for artists
  • Ensure that the work of the team follows the quality standards, artistic direction and set deadlines.
  • Actively participate in project management decisions and supervise the necessary adjustments so that the animation team is able to reach their goals.
  • Develop and manage successful teams:

          o   Coach and share best practices with the animation team

          o   Recruit and identify talents

          o   Manage performance: define objectives, give constructive feedback

          o   Empower and develop his teams with a long-term perspective

Skills & Requirements

  • A minimum of 7 years’ experience as an Animator or Technical Animator in game development with a strong understanding of rigging, skinning, keyframe animation, motion capturing and procedural animation.
  • At least 2 years of experience in a leadership role.
  • Proven experience on at least one shipped title
  • Excellent knowledge of Maya, Motion Builder, 3DSMAX, and/or other commercial 3D authoring packages.
  • A keen eye for motion, weight, timing and animation.  
  • Being able to work with a complex animation system and complex animation state machines
  • Able to keep content within the current project’s art style and work within those limitations.
  • Understand workflows and tools in animation production with the ability to modify and improve them. 
  • Be forward thinking and anticipate the needs of your project. 
  • High degree of self-motivation and initiative.
  • Great communication skills and a positive attitude
  • Fluent in English, both verbally and written

Bonus

  • Experience with Motion editing and handling Mocap Data in Motion Builder is a plus
  • Experience as modeler and/or texture artist a plus
  • Ability to create custom tools and scripts to increase the productivity is a plus.
  • Rigging experience is a plus
  • Being an avid gamer is a plus

Additional Information

  • Relocation assistance is offered

How to Apply

PORTFOLIO

It is required that you submit a portfolio of your work with your application. You may do so by providing a link to an online portfolio (preferred) or attaching documents to your resume. (Please ensure the link is working and any passcode if required is shared before submitting your application)

All portfolios must contain a detailed shot breakdown of the work. It must be very clear what you, the applicant, are responsible for in your reel, portfolio, screenshots etc.

The portfolio should contain the following:

  • Examples of character animation (full body motion, emotions etc.)
  • Examples of animation style variety
  • Examples of environment animation or visual effects
  • Examples of animation rigs and their functionality in a 3D package

To apply submit your cover letter detailing your earliest start date, salary expectations and motivation along with your portfolio here: Lead Animator [Avatar Project] (f/m/d)

About the Company

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft is present in 28 countries and has sales in 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers.

We are committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to players. In our German offices in Düsseldorf, Mainz and Berlin, we are working on brands like “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege”, "Far Cry", “For Honor", "Skull & Bones", “The Settlers”, “Anno” and “Beyond Good & Evil” and many more.


Your Benefits

  • Relocation Support: We offer financial support in form of a cash allowance and assistance with accommodation search and settle-in support via our relocation partner, for international candidates we offer visa assistance.
  • 26 days paid vacation per year. Additionally, you will get half a day off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and approximately 11 bank holidays in the NRW region.
  • Flexible Working Hours: We have core working times between 10:00 AM – 04:00 PM and the distribution of the other hours is up to you.
  • Development Support: Leadership training, workshops, guest speakers from the industry, online Ubisoft learning platform, coaches, paid self-study hours and library.
  • Free English and German; The business language in the studio is English. No German is required to work with us.
  • Company Pension Scheme. We offer an attractive scheme through salary sacrificing in which the employer also matches contributions 
  • Up to 350€ childcare support per child per month. In addition, we also offer 5 ‘care for ill children days’ per child per year.
     
  • Gym Subsidy
  • Monthly Travel Budget
  • Discounted Ubisoft Games
  • & more