Senior Rigging Technical Director (1099)

Dreamscape Learn, a pioneer in the realm of immersive virtual reality learning design, is seeking a Senior Rigging Technical Director with a passion for entertainment and immersive storytelling to join our innovative team. This role is essential in creating realistic and dynamic character movements for our virtual worlds. If you thrive in creative collaboration and technical problem-solving, this role is for you.

This is a 1099 contract role.

Role & Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain rigging systems for 3D characters, creatures, and objects to ensure smooth, believable movement.
• Collaborate closely with animators, modelers, and developers to develop rigs that meet creative and technical needs.
• Create and implement facial and body control rigs tailored to the needs of different projects.
• Optimize rigs for performance across multiple platforms, including VR environments.
• Identify and troubleshoot rigging, skinning, and deformation issues throughout the production process.
• Develop and refine rigging tools and scripts to streamline workflow for artists and animators.
• Support character animation by integrating assets into the Unity game engine and testing functionality in VR.
• Stay updated on new tools, techniques, and innovations in character rigging and VR animation technology.

Requirements:
• 6-8 years of experience in character rigging, preferably in entertainment (gaming, film, animation, or VR/AR).
• Previous experience with Advanced Skeleton Pro.
• Able to script solutions for in engine issues with VR hands and character rigs.
• Proficiency with 3D software such as Maya, Blender, or Houdini (with an emphasis on rigging and skinning workflows).
• Experience with Unity, particularly in integrating and optimizing rigged assets for performance.
• Strong understanding of anatomy, motion, and deformation principles for both humans and creatures.
• Familiarity with scripting languages like Python or MEL to develop rigging tools and automation processes.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (animators, designers, programmers) and adapt to changing project needs.
• Attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills in a fast-paced production environment.
• Excellent communication skills to provide and receive feedback constructively.
• Experience in rigging for VR or interactive experiences (Strongly Preferred)
• Knowledge of facial motion capture systems and workflows (Strongly Preferred)
• Understanding of real-time performance optimization and VR rendering constraints (Strongly Preferred)

Benefits:
Monthly rate: $9,000-$12,000/month (DOE)