Character Technical Artist

**Description**:
Our client, an entertainment pioneer fusing hyper-real virtual production with next-gen gameplay, is building something that pushes the limits of what immersive gaming can be.

Think real-time pipelines. Unreal Engine magic. And global IPs from Netflix, Warner Bros, FIFA, Universal Studios, and more.

**Job Overview**

Are you ready to breathe life into the next generation of game characters?

We’re not just crafting models, we’re engineering digital souls that move, emote, and captivate.

As our **Character Technical Artist**, you’ll bridge the gap between artistic vision and technological innovation, transforming concepts into living, breathing characters for Unreal Engine 5’s most demanding stages.

This is where polygons meet personality, where every rigging decision and material shader contributes to unforgettable virtual beings. You won’t just follow pipelines, you’ll redefine them, ensuring our characters don’t just exist in-game, but truly _live_ there.

**What will you do?**:

- Own and maintain the full end-to-end character asset pipeline, ensuring seamless transition across modelling, texturing, rigging and animation workflows.
- Architect and refine custom character creation toolsets, ensuring scalability, modularity, and flexibility for real-time and cinematic use.
- Build and optimize character asset pipelines, integrating efficient procedural workflows, automation tools, and modular character systems to support varied body types and animation requirements.
- Develop sophisticated rigging and deformation systems, allowing for customizable facial, skeletal, and animation controls that enhance expressiveness and adaptability.
- Create modular character assets that support extensive customization and interchangeability, ensuring characters can scale across a variety of styles and gameplay needs.
- Enhance real-time physics integration, working with cloth, hair, and soft-body simulation tools to maximize character realism.
- Integrate real-time motion capture workflows from systems like Vicon, Xsens, OptiTrack, Move.AI, and Rokoko, refining data for fluid animation fidelity.
- Collaborate with animators to develop animation control rigs and pipeline enhancements, focusing on ease of use and efficiency.
- Optimize character systems for Unreal Engine 5, ensuring seamless implementation and performance across runtime environments.
- Develop advanced shaders, materials, and FX specifically for character rendering in stylized and realistic pipelines.
- Mentor junior artists and document pipeline best practices to establish a standardized approach for scalable asset development.

**What are we looking for?**:

- 5+ years of experience in a Character Tech Art or equivalent role in game development.
- Expert proficiency in Unreal Engine 5, including hands-on experience with character toolsets, procedural workflows, and modular systems.
- Strong experience with rigging and motion capture workflows, including real-time data cleaning and integration.
- Expert-level skills in DCCs like Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and Adobe Photoshop.
- Deep understanding of modular asset creation, focusing on scalability, interchangeable components, and efficient rigging techniques.
- Hands-on experience with cloth, hair, and soft-body physics systems for real-time animation optimization.
- Proven track record of building custom toolsets for rigging, deformation, and character customization.
- Outstanding problem-solving skills regarding creative, technical, and production challenges, with a proactive approach to solutions.

**Qualifications**:

- No formal degree required, but practical experience is essential.
- Certifications in Game Development and/or Virtual Production are highly valued.
- A professional portfolio showcasing character rigs, toolsets, and technical breakdowns is required.
- Demonstrated ownership of shipped projects or pipeline systems is highly regarded

**What additional skills will help you standout?**
- Experience designing creature or monster rigs, integrating unique articulation needs.
- Familiarity with Python or MEL scripting for automation and tool development.
- Previous work on live-service or iGaming titles, with an understanding of character pipeline constraints.
- Background in both stylized and realistic asset creation, including adaptive shading techniques.

**Why will you love working with our client?**:

- Salary: Competitive (depending on experience).
- Competitive premium relocation package.
- Enjoy free lunches Monday - Friday at Prahran office.
- Mental well-being program that includes 4 free counselling sessions, unlimited access to text, video and audio resources, regular check-ins and feedback opportunities.
- Annual leave of 20 working days.
- Additional leave requests for personal, community service, long service and public holidays, including religious holidays.
- Industry-leading parental leave, up to 22 weeks plus:

- 10 additional days or 2 wee