About the role
Studio Overview
Visual Concepts is a top game development studio that has shipped over 100 multi-sku titles. The studio environment is characterized by independent and entrepreneurial teams. Studios are located in Novato, Irvine, Budapest, Shanghai, Austin, Boise, Seoul, and Parksville, Canada. The organization is committed to artistry and technical innovation.
The Team
The NBA Tech Art team is a diverse group of Technical Artists responsible for a wide variety of tasks. Responsibilities include writing and maintaining tools for the art department, rigging characters, props, and clothing, and performing technical problem solving. This role reports to the Lead Technical Artist.
Role Overview
The Novato team is seeking an expert character rigging artist (temporary) familiar with body and face rigging to work closely with the art team.
Responsibilities
- Update character rigs to improve deformation and more accurately simulate human anatomy.
- Create math node networks to make new connections for body and face rigs.
- Implement blendshapes and corrective shapes into rigs with the support of the character team.
- Create clean skinweight and blendweight maps.
- Write Python code to automate tasks, create procedural setups, and improve workflow efficiency.
- Diagnose, debug, and resolve character rigging-related errors across tools and the game.
- Collaborate with other technical artists to support art teams directly.
- Work closely with engineers and collaborate with multiple art departments to address feedback notes and make art asset requests.
- Contribute to documentation, workflows, and pipeline improvements that scale across the team.
Qualifications
- Strong expertise in Autodesk Maya.
- Strong understanding of human anatomy and deformation.
- Working knowledge of scripting in Python/PyMel.
- Familiarity with Facial Action Coding System (FACS) based rigs.
- Familiarity with joint placement and designing skeleton setups.
- Experience in creating character rigs that are optimized for games.
- Knowledge of good topology and proper edge-flow to create natural deformation.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
- Love for video games.
Preferred Qualifications
- Working with NgSkinTools for weight painting.
- Familiarity with creating UIs with Qt.
- Experience with version control (Perforce).
- Experience creating jiggle joints or other dynamic simulation setups.
- Programming using Maya Python API.
Compensation and Benefits
US (All States except for WA)
- California: $54 - $75 per hour
- New York: $48 - $68 per hour
- New Jersey: $48 - $68 per hour
- Maryland: $48 - $68 per hour
- Colorado: $48 - $68 per hour
- Base pay is based on market location and may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Total compensation may include bonus and/or equity awards, and health/financial benefits (note: temporary or intern roles may not be eligible for certain payments or benefits).
US (Washington State)
- Pay range: $54 - $75 per hour
- Base pay is based on market location and may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.
- Total compensation may include bonus, equity awards, and eligibility to participate in the 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.
- Benefits for regular, full-time employees include: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance; 14 paid holidays per year; paid vacation (15-25 days) or discretionary time off; up to 10 paid sick days; paid parental and compassionate leave; mental health and wellness support; family planning support; commuter benefits; and fitness reimbursements.
Canada
- British Columbia: CAD $47 - $67 per hour
- Base pay is based on market location and may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Total compensation may include bonus and/or equity awards, and health/financial benefits (note: temporary or intern roles may not be eligible for certain payments or benefits).
Employment Terms
- Positions are "at-will."
- Base salary and other discretionary payments or benefits may be modified at any time based on performance or market factors.