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VFX Rigger – Stop Motion VFX Project
Zoic Studios
Job Summary
Location: British Columbia, Canada (Remote work option available only within BC or onsite at Vancouver studio in Gastown near Waterfront Station)
Zoic Studios is a Visual Effects company specializing in high-end visual effects for television, film, and advertising. Our mantra is Visual Evolution – focusing on every part of the process from the final picture to the pipeline used to create it. We are an artist-owned and operated VFX studio that values curiosity, work/life balance, and diversity.
We are excited to offer a contract role starting immediately on an incredible stop-motion animated feature project that promises creativity, collaboration, and a fantastic chance to showcase your skills.
Key Responsibilities
- Create, maintain, improve, and support rigs throughout production, including scripting and tool development to facilitate animation requests and maintain technical documentation.
- Develop flexible and rebuildable rig modules integrating with the existing Python code base.
- Collaborate with modeling, animation, and character effects departments to troubleshoot creative and technical issues.
- Perform modeling and animation tasks as needed for rig development.
- Support rigging needs for large crowds in collaboration with the crowd team and assist with motion capture rigging requirements for shoots.
- Communicate effectively with production and technical directors regarding asset performance, pipeline compatibility, and deadlines.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- 3-5 years of feature film CG rigging experience.
- Proficient rigging skills in Maya, including Python scripting and Maya node networks with debugging capabilities at node/connection level.
- Proven experience developing Python scripts, tools, and/or C++ plugins within a CG animation pipeline.
- Knowledge of MEL, PyQt, bash is a plus.
- Understanding of Motion Capture integration for rigs and related workflows.
- Experience with 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.).
- Strong 3D math knowledge and understanding of geometry, kinematics, and deformation.
- Modeling skills with ability to troubleshoot polygonal mesh flow for deformation.
- Proficiency working in a Linux environment.
- Preferred: Background in visual arts/design with strong understanding of form and movement.
- Expertise running cloth, nCloth, and hair simulation is a plus.
Experience Requirements
3-5 years of feature film CG rigging experience is required.
Education Requirements
Not explicitly specified.
Benefits & Compensation
Pay Range: $40 – $55 per hour (Base salary depends on qualifications, experience, education, certifications, and location)
Zoic Studios does not cover relocation costs.
Work from home positions require a reliable ethernet internet connection and working on Pacific Standard Time.
Application Process
This job description contains the basic requirements and is not a complete list of responsibilities; other duties may be assigned.
Due to the volume of applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Work Eligibility
All applicants must be residents of British Columbia, Canada and legally entitled to work in Canada (Citizen, PR, Open Work Permit).
