Cloud Chamber · 2 days ago
Principal Character Technical Animator
Novato, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$130K/yr - $190K/yr
8+ years expCloud Chamber is a game development company focused on creating immersive experiences, and they are seeking a Principal Technical Animator to join their animation team. In this role, you will craft character rigs, collaborate with teams, and push the creative and technical boundaries of their projects.
ComputerDeveloper PlatformMedia and EntertainmentVideo Games
Responsibilities
Engage with stakeholders to align objectives and develop scalable solutions that optimize content authoring workflows
Craft advanced character rigs and systems, while upholding high standards in character performance and optimization for Unreal Engine
Implement characters and features within Unreal Engine: physics, RBF driver set-ups, modular character set-ups, procedural rigging, and more
Create and oversee an industry-leading character rigging pipeline and toolset, continuously exploring and integrating next-generation technologies
Mentor team members on best practices for rigging and tooling by sharing your expert-level knowledge
Qualification
Required
8 to 10+ years of professional experience in 3D rigging and character technology for games with increasing seniority over the course of your career
Experience as either a Lead or Principal Rigger, Technical Animator, or Senior Rigger on at least one shipped AAA title
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Technical Art, 3D Animation, or in a related field, or equivalent industry experience and an exceptional portfolio
Demonstrable expertise in relevant scripting languages and tools like Unreal and Unreal Python API and/or C++
Mastery in deformations, FK/IK systems, set driven keys, and blend shape creation to achieve a wide range of character performances
Proficient with providing modeling and topology guidance related to skin deformations
Proficient in industry standard DCC tools and software with a keen understanding of their downstream implications
Solid knowledge of Maya Python API, including knowledge of the standard library, Qt toolkit (PySide, PyQt), and common 3rd Party Libraries and frameworks
Extensive experience supporting cross discipline teams with best-in-class rigging, tools, and documentation
Extensive experience working with and augmenting large established rigging pipelines
Deep understanding of human kinesiology and anatomy, including the underlying muscles, bone structure, and how they contribute to animation fundamentals
Proficiency in French is required
Proficiency in English is required to effectively collaborate with teams based in the United States
Preferred
Experience with FACS driven rigs
Experience working with JALI, or other procedural driven facial systems
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Basic life insurance coverage
14 paid holidays per calendar year
Paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days)
Eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program
Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year
Paid parental and compassionate leave
Wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support
Family planning support through Maven
Commuter benefits
Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses
Company
Cloud Chamber
Cloud Chamber is a gaming studio that develops video games and entertainment creation services.
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Cloud Chamber has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (7)
2024 (10)
2023 (21)
2022 (20)
2021 (12)
2020 (6)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageRecent News
2025-11-08
Company data provided by crunchbase