Technical Artist (Games)

Skybound is looking for a Technical Artist (Rigging, Animation and Dynamics) to work on character rigs, destruction models, simulations and dynamics, animation and cutscene workflows, and more! Technical Artists unlock the potential of those around them by creatively and technically solving complex game development challenges. The ideal candidate will be passionate about delivering the best possible workflows and actively participate in the lifecycles of our characters and experiences we are creating.

As a Technical Artist, you will be influencing direction on key pipelines and features in the earliest stages of development. You will help streamline and make our workflows more efficient. You will work with our cross functional teams in delivering prototypes and features that deliver new advancements to our core player experience.

Reports: This position will report to the Animation Director

Responsibilities: Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Work collaboratively with a cross functional team
• Create and maintain rigs (both body and facial) and skinning, for characters, clothing and props
• Collaborate with Art and Engineering to drive research, workflows, and technologies for improved deformations, damage states, animation fidelity, and streamlined creation processes
• Develop and maintain damage and destruction systems
• Troubleshoot technical issues related to rigs, animations, hair and cloth simulations, and destruction models

Basic Qualifications:

• Fluent in Maya with significant experience writing animation, rigging, and UI tools
• Proficient in one or more programming/GUI languages (Ex. Python, PySide/PyQt)
• Experience with cloth and rigid/soft body physics setup for characters, including collision volumes
• A strong understanding of anatomy, gesture, and silhouette
• Experience researching, piloting and rolling out new techniques
• Ability to translate creative ambition and onscreen feature requests into the achievable technical tasks required to realize them

Preferred Qualifications:

• C#/C++/Maya API experience
• Video games industry experience and/or gaming familiarity
• Experience with JIRA, DeltaDNA, Perforce, and Confluence
• End-to-end knowledge of game production processes, and ability to scale your role to each phase
• Unreal Engine experience
• Passion for video game development
• Passion for combat oriented games
• Passion for Skybound IP

Job Type: Regular, Full-Time

Salary Range: $130,000-$140,000

• Actual base salary is dependent on several factors including but not limited to; market dynamics, location and region, experience, specialized skills/training (education), level of responsibility, budgetary considerations, tenure at the company (for current employees), etc.
• The salary range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees
• Compensation decisions are dependent on circumstances of each role

Skybound offers a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending and dependent care accounts, as well as free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). We also offer a 401K plan with 4% match, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, generous time off, wellness benefits, and tuition reimbursement.

Company Overview

Skybound is a multiplatform content company working closely with creators and their intellectual properties, extending stories and universes to new platforms, including comics, television, film, tabletop and video games, books, digital content, events, and beyond. We are home to critically-acclaimed global franchises, including The Walking Dead and Invincible.

Skybound Games produces, publishes and distributes video and tabletop games across all genres, including the multi-million-unit selling The Walking Dead video game series. In addition to our wholly-owned franchises, we work with independent developers to foster and create original games with compelling characters and worlds, strong creator and artistic focus, and innovative approaches to engaging genres.

Invincible is one of Skybound's tentpole franchises (celebrating 20 years!) and spans the world of comic books, merchandise, video games, and the critically acclaimed adult animated television series on Prime Video. Now in its second season, the television show has consistently ranked as one of Prime Videos top-streamed series with a 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Based on the groundbreaking comic book by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, Invincible revolves around 18-year-old Mark Grayson, who’s just like every other guy his age—except his father is (or was) the most powerful superhero on the planet. Still reeling from Nolan’s betrayal in Season One, Mark struggles to rebuild his life as he faces a host of new threats, all while battling his greatest fear - that he might become his father without even knowing it.

The show stars Steven Yeun, with Sandra Oh, Zazie Beetz, Grey Griffin, Chris Diamantopoulos, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Seth Rogen, and J.K. Simmons. Executive producers include Skybound's own Kirkman, David Alpert, and Margaret M. Dean.

Equal Opportunity Employer

At Skybound we value diversity and are looking for extraordinary employees of all backgrounds! Skybound is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, hair texture or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, Skybound complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination.

Skybound will consider applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the CA Fair Chance Act and Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.