Sinn Studio Careers
Senior Technical Animator (Gaming)
Description
Sinn Studio Inc. is leading the charge in VR combat games! Debut game, Swordsman, is a physics-based combat game where you can slash your way through medieval earth to become the ultimate Swordsman. Having won multiple awards like Game of the Year in 2022, Best Swordfighting Game in 2020 and more. Swordsman also boasts top best seller in Quest and PSVR/2 platforms.
Sinn Studio is looking for a Senior Technical Animator to join our team! We are looking for someone with expertise in supporting and streamlining animation systems, tools, and pipelines. To enhance a unique game experience, technical animation enables better character behaviours and/or gameplay responsiveness. The incumbent is an ambitious problem-solver with a demonstrated ability to build compelling technical animation solutions for video games in engine. They balance player expectations within technical budgets and performance while not compromising on creative quality helping the project come alive. We are looking for someone who will enrich our animation capabilities with the standards you set in your practice overcoming ever-changing needs.
Responsibilities
- Be involved in scalable, technical tasks related to animation. Producing unique materials for and with the animation team could include:
- Physics rigs, animation trees and graphs, dynamic objects and more
- Tool integration and scripting
- Building and maintaining animation tools and integration
- Support of integration and systems into engine such as APIs connecting industry standard software (may work with motion capture data)
- Building and maintaining any tools for animation related systems in Unreal (ie. with nodes, Animation Blueprints and Sequencer)
- Work with the animation and programming teams amongst others to overcome technical obstacles in animation
- Troubleshoot and support technical issues in animation, addressing any challenging throughout the production lifecycle
- Regular technical validation as well as testing between systems and modifications to respect conventions used
- Debug resolution in a timely manner ensuring correct functionality
- Ensure roadblocks are eliminated in sustainable, robust approaches
- Help maintain efficient performance/constraints in engine and visual quality targets
- Understand animation and gameplay team’s needs, features and processes
- Maintain and evolve technical animation guidelines, benchmarking and naming conventions
- Genuinely help communicate and mentor on technical topics to ensure that colleagues understand and can apply standards and implementations
- Champion streamlined best practices between animation and programming that produces quality results
- Apply new techniques to increase team skill and output
- Liaise as a communication touch point for technical and non-technical translation within animation
- Provide and receive constructive feedback where appropriate
- Understand and analyze new industry practices and tooling
- Other related duties as required
Qualifications
If the following sounds like you, and you’re interested in joining a growing start-up, we want to hear from you! Not sure that you meet all qualifications? Cast those doubts away - we strongly welcome you to apply. We love to hear from people who are ecstatic about working in the XR industry and where it will evolve to.
- 5+ years of experience as a technical animator within Unreal Engine with the ability to produce high-quality, performant work
- Strong ability to support relevant animation processes from scratch, or with available resources
- A solid understanding of animation principles and creative briefs (including fundamentals such as body mechanics and anatomy)
- Strong understanding of animation and technical pipeline requirements
- Able to help push boundaries of technical requirements and creative vision for expressive and realistic animations
- Able to move efficiently between areas in the animation pipeline such as: IK, skinweights, skeletons, blend shapes, animation trees, state machines, character performance, rigging, and animation systems
- Comfortable using different industry software related to the animation pipeline (ie. Maya)
- Demonstrated ability and proficient grasp of animation related systems in Unreal (ie. node-based, Animation Blueprints and Sequencer)
- Creative, pragmatic problem solver with an attention to detail
- Rigorous work ethic and sense of initiative
- Experience supporting on solutions for technical issues with programmers and animators
- Comfortable working with debugging
- Able to quickly identify and resolve issues and bottlenecks with pragmatic solutions
- Shipped at least one PC / console game using the Unreal Engine
- Knowledgeable in optimization workflows for real-time and cinematic animation
- Keen understanding of downstream and cross-functional implications
- Knowledge of C++ (with related plugins), libraries, and/or Python APIs is an asset
- Excellent interpersonal communicator (verbal and written) in technical and non-technical terms
- Able to mentor other team members in a respectful manner
- Proven ability in training and documentation workflows
- Able to receive and give constructive feedback. Receptive and agile with feedback provided.
Added Advantages:
- Experience with VR / MR
- Background in XR
- Experience in developing or evolving custom tools
- Understanding of the motion capture process
- Post-secondary education in Computer Science, 3D animation techniques, Game development or other related fields
- A good foundation in 3D math and physics
- PC and console experience preferred over mobile
- An authentic understanding and passion about games / working in the industry
What to send in your application
- Beyond a resume, please also include a portfolio demonstrating your highlights and successes in Technical Animation related to this position
Additional Information
Salary Range: $105,000-120,000 CAD annually + 3 weeks vacation, sick days, employer paid benefits (except LTD), Employee Assistance Program, wellness days, birthday day off, a Group Retirement Savings Plan (GRSP), Employee Stock Options (ESOP) [coming in 2024], and more.
As of the time of this posting, Sinn Studio lists the projected base salary range in good faith. A salary offered will be determined upon several factors such as: relevant experience, skillset, geographic location, and organizational critical needs.
Office Location: Liberty Village, Toronto
Work Structure: Preference will be given to local candidates or those who are willing to relocate to the Greater Toronto Area to work in a hybrid model with two days in office collaborating with local team members and our founders.
If this sounds like you, and you’re interested in joining a growing start-up, we want to hear from you! Not sure that you meet all qualifications? Cast those doubts away - we strongly welcome you to apply. We love to hear from people who are ecstatic about working in the XR industry and where it will evolve to.
Sinn Studio is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusion and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability or any other basis forbidden under federal, provincial, or local law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, or if you have any additional questions about the role, please contact us at talent@sinnstudio.com.
The Sinn Studio Talent team will communicate with you only through official email addresses and connected Linkedin profiles. We do not use WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc. Our team will not ask you to send us money or technology through our processes.
No agencies or external recruiters please.
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Compensation
$105,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year