We are looking for an Animation Lead with a passion for character-driven narratives to join us in bringing a script to life. You’ll work with a cross discipline team to build environments and action that will be shot by the filmmakers themselves using our virtual cinematography volume. If there’s a character or asset that moves in the scene, it’ll either be created by you or captured via Mocap. You’ll be leading a growing team of animators while still spending the majority of your time on the box. Strong input into the standards, practices, and overall structure of the animation team is a given, but creative leadership and vision, backed by the ability to demonstrate not just direct, will be a key part of success here.  This is a leadership position, and teamwork is essential.

Responsibilities

• Working with filmmakers and creative supervisors on designing animation sequences and action to work within Master Scenes
• Is active in the creative process and communicates goals and objectives to the team 
• Deliver and integrate animation into Unreal scenes based on an adjustable quality level determined by many factors including available development time during the visualization process
• Providing long-term strategic planning and inspiring technical solutions regarding animation
• Leverage latest advancements in Unreal Engine to expedite animation process
• Augment motion capture data of character animation for creative purposes
• Ensure that standardized practices are developed and implemented across projects to meet high quality and aesthetic standards
• Ingest character meshes from external parties and analyze technical requirements for assets to work in our realtime system
• Create and utilize packaged default rigs for characters, skin meshes, and apply rigs to character skeletons
• Work with production support to plan schedules, commit to deliveries, and inspire animators to deliver great performances
• Lead, coach, and mentor animators to create a unified vision for projects 

Qualifications

• A strong portfolio which demonstrates a diverse background with real-time animation systems (both pre-scripted and animation trees for state machines)
• 7+ years of leading character-driven animation with excellent credentials on high quality AAA games (The number of years isn’t mandatory, but it’s an indicator of the seniority and experience expected)
• In-depth knowledge of Maya & Unreal, including FK and IK techniques and rigging methodologies 
• Can work in a range of styles from stylized to realistic and can maintain a consistent style across characters over the course of a project 
• Experience with hand-animation, Mixamo pre-canned animations, and motion capture systems
• Interest in simulation-based real-time animation controllers with neural-network powered style transfer
• Experience animating in Unreal Engine

The anticipated base salary for this position is $119K to $159K. This role may also qualify for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at SPE_Accommodation_Assistance@spe.sony.com.