Electronic Arts

Rigging Director ( EA Create : Rigging )

EA Create

EA Create is a collective of content production teams partnering with EA Studios game teams to bring outstanding visuals, audio and technology to life. Our teams consist of artists, engineers, technicians, designers and development directors. Worldwide, we combine our teams to form a global group of extraordinary individuals fueled by imagination and a unified passion for creating amazing visuals, sound and experiences. We’re a diverse team that is unified through collaboration, culture and craft.

Rigging

EA Create Rigging, the versatile team mostly based between Vancouver, Canada, and Orlando, Florida is best known for creating amazing work in titles such as Football Club, Madden, UFC, Plants Versus Zombies, Apex Legends, Dead Space, and Battlefield to name a few; and we're looking for a Rigging Supervisor to guide direction on upcoming titles.

Rigging Director

The Rigging Director oversees the Rigging Department. You will be the voice of the department in collaboration with Game Teams, partner teams, and external technical groups. You will report into the Production Technical Art Director and manage direct reports on the team.  You will be responsible for multiple projects, being a point of escalation without daily production support being your main focus. 

Responsibilities:

• Technical / Creative oversight of the projects under your guidance
• Manager of multiple Senior Rigging Artists
• Maintain Rigging department roadmap
• Regular check ins with Artists, Leads, and Supervisors to support their needs
• Work with Production to ensure overall scope of deliveries
• Establish quality benchmarks for Game Teams
• Lead improvements within the Rigging space, both visual and technical
• Collaborate with partner teams to align development
• Mentor a diverse team of artists and technicians
• Work with external vendors to maintain Rigging quality
• Initial project scoping and investigations
• Oversee the documentation of workflows

Qualifications:

• 8+ years experience with multiple shipped Game Titles or VFX / Feature Animation
• Experience working with Technical, Creative, and Business Partners
• Background in rigging and skinning complex assets
• Strong understanding of Simulation
• Expertise in Maya
• Proficient scripting experience with Python tool building and PyQT / PySide
• Knowledge of animation principles and human anatomy
• 3D Math Experience

Bonus:

• Game Engine Experience (Commercial or Proprietary)
• Houdini Experience
• Maya API Familiarity
• Facial Rigging Experience
• Motion Capture Familiarity
• Knowledge of C++.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs). 

PAY RANGES

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to temporary full-time employees scheduled to work full time.