Animation Software Jobs in Vancouver, BC (NOW HIRING)

Company Overview

     ICON Creative Studio is Canada’s largest independently owned animation entertainment company, located in the historic Gastown district of Vancouver, BC. Our talented team includes specialists across the entire animation pipeline, working alongside creative and management professionals to deliver outstanding animated content.

Known for our commitment to quality, efficiency, and timely deliveries, ICON has partnered with distributors, broadcasters, and leading streaming platforms worldwide to create and produce noteworthy, impactful projects.

We operate from a holistic philosophy, leveraging the unique skill sets of our team members to maximize production efficiency while maintaining an optimal balance of creativity and quality on-screen.

Why Work at ICON?

• Collaborate on top-tier feature and episodic CG franchises for major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Peacock, and Paramount+.
• Be part of a diverse team of artists from around the globe who have joined us here in British Columbia.
• Work with the latest tools and software, ensuring you're always equipped to do your best work.
• Be part of a studio that upholds a premium standard of quality across all productions, putting every resource into what’s on-screen.
• Enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and a supportive workplace culture.
• Access direct deposit and a generous benefits package.
• Grow with us through continuous learning opportunities, mentorship, and empowering you to achieve your professional goals.
• We offer a competitive total rewards package that includes comprehensive extended health, dental, vision, prescription drug, and paramedical coverage, and access to mental health and wellness resources. Employees also enjoy a pet-friendly studio, an onsite gym, and regular social events that bring teams together both virtually and in person. 

Junior Technical Animator

Job Overview

     As a Junior Technical Animator, you will be an integral part of our dynamic technical animation team, contributing to the successful delivery of projects within specified deadlines. Your primary responsibility involves seamless collaboration with the animation team to achieve shot quotas while consistently delivering animations of high quality within the given timeframe. Your adaptability and skill set will shine as you follow technical and artistic direction provided by supervisors and leads, implementing feedback and making necessary adjustments to animations. Your meticulous eye for detail will be crucial in identifying and rectifying geometry crashing and animation errors in existing shots, elevating the visual appeal and overall quality of our animations through thorough polishing. Effective communication with supervisors, leads, and the broader animation team is essential, as is collaboration with other departments to ensure the seamless integration of your shots into the overall project. This role offers an exciting opportunity for growth and development within a supportive and innovative studio environment.

Responsibilities: 

• Work collaboratively with the animation team to meet project deadlines and shot quotas.
• Efficiently perform fixes and simulations within the given timeframe.
• Ability to follow technical and artistic direction provided by supervisors and leads.
• Implement feedback and make adjustments to animations as required.
• Identify and rectify geometry crashing and animation errors in existing shots.
• Enhance the visual appeal and overall quality of animations through meticulous polishing.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, leads, and the Production team.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure seamless integration of animations into the overall project.

Qualifications:

• Foundational knowledge of Maya and general understanding of 3D environments
• Basic animation and modeling skills, demonstrated through coursework, personal projects, or a demo reel
• Introductory knowledge of Maya nCloth or other cloth-related simulation software
• Eagerness to learn and develop technical skills in rigging, dynamics, and pipeline tools
• Strong problem-solving mindset with a willingness to take initiative and ask questions
• Collaborative attitude and openness to feedback in a production environment

Intermediate Technical Animator

Job Overview

     As an Intermediate Technical Animator, you play a key role in the team to refine character rigs for optimal functionality. Your troubleshooting skills extend to resolving technical issues related to animation, assets, and rigging, often collaborating with other departments. Additionally, you contribute to the development and improvement of animation tools and pipelines to enhance overall efficiency and quality. Engaging in various aspects of the animation pipeline, you showcase versatility in topology, weight painting, and caching across different departments. With a comprehensive understanding of Maya constraints and deformers, you employ a variety of animation techniques. Your role demands critical thinking skills for independently solving complex animation tasks, and your commitment to staying updated on industry trends ensures a continuous improvement in technical skills, maintaining the highest standards in animation production.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the animation team to implement and refine character rigs, ensuring optimal functionality for animators.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues related to animation, assets, and rigging, collaborating with other departments as needed.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of animation tools and pipelines to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Engage in various aspects of the animation pipeline, including topology, weight painting, and caching, showcasing versatility and adaptability across different departments.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Maya constraints and deformers, whether native or part of the studio pipeline, showcasing versatility in animation techniques.
• Apply critical thinking skills to solve complex animation tasks independently, taking responsibility for the successful execution of assigned projects.
• Stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies to continuously improve technical skills.

Qualifications:

• 1–2 years of professional industry experience
• Strong demo reel showcasing intermediate animation and modeling skills
• Intermediate knowledge of Maya nDynamics, including nCloth setups for varied scenarios (e.g. light/heavy cloth, wind, underwater)
• Comfortable working with Icon’s rig systems
• Cross-departmental experience in topology, weight painting, and caching
• Skilled in importing/exporting animation with tools such as Studio Library or PAIE
• Proficient with Maya constraints and deformers (native and pipeline-based)
• Solid understanding of nucleus-based dynamics attributes
• Strong critical thinking skills and ability to take ownership of tasks

Senior Technical Animator

Job Overview

     As a Senior Technical Animator, you'll be at the forefront of our animation team, leading the charge in implementing advanced technical solutions for character animation. In close collaboration with the lead, you will oversee the development of intricate character rigs, execute complex cloth simulations, and provide technical leadership to achieve exceptional visual quality in our animated projects. Collaborating closely with animators, you'll leverage your extensive experience to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues while also driving the continuous improvement of animation tools and pipelines. Your role is pivotal in shaping the creative and technical direction of our animated content, showcasing a unique blend of expertise in character animation and leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the most shots on the team, demonstrating expertise in fixing animation errors.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of rigging systems, ensuring compatibility with advanced cloth simulations.
• Comfortably hand-animate hair and cloth when necessary, bringing characters to life with nuanced and realistic motion.
• Apply a comprehensive understanding of modeling techniques for topology fixing and UV mapping to ensure optimal cloth simulations.
• Collaborate with modelers to refine character meshes for improved animation outcomes.
• Possess basic knowledge of Arnold rendering, contributing to the overall rendering process and ensuring visual quality.
• Demonstrate intermediate to advanced proficiency in Python, capable of understanding errors and editing parameters for error fixing within the animation pipeline.

Qualifications:

• 3+ years of professional experience in the animation industry, with a proven ability to handle complex technical tasks
• Strong demo reel showcasing advanced animation and modeling skills
• Advanced knowledge of Maya nDynamics, including nCloth setups for varied scenarios (light/heavy cloth, wind, underwater)
• Comfortable and experienced with rig systems
• Cross-departmental expertise in topology, weight painting, and caching workflows
• Skilled in importing/exporting animation with Studio Library, PAIE, or similar tools
• Proficient with Maya constraints and deformers (native and pipeline-based)
• Solid understanding of nucleus-based dynamics attributes
• Basic knowledge of Arnold rendering to support the integration of animated elements into final visual output
• Strong critical thinking, with proven ability to take ownership of tasks and provide technical solutions

Lead Technical Animator

Job Overview

As the Lead Technical Animator, you will help lead the technical animation team and oversee the technical aspects of projects. You guide and mentor the team, ensuring a collaborative and innovative environment. Your role involves collaborating closely with animators, providing technical guidance, continuously improving animation tools, and working seamlessly with other department leads to ensure a cohesive approach to the animation process. Your leadership shapes the creative and technical direction of our animated projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Technical Animators, providing guidance and support to ensure the successful execution of the TV Series.
• Oversee the implementation and refinement of character rigs, ensuring optimal functionality for animators.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues related to animation, assets, and rigging, demonstrating a deep understanding of industry best practices.
• Innovate and implement solutions to enhance efficiency and quality in the animation production process.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of animation tools and pipelines, driving innovation and efficiency in technical workflows.
• Collaborate with production teams to uphold project timelines, allocate resources, and ensure the successful delivery of high-quality animation within specified deadlines.
• Provide training and mentorship to junior and intermediate technical animators, fostering a culture of continuous learning and skill development within the team.
• Be aware of industry trends and emerging technologies, implementing relevant advancements to maintain the highest standards of technical animation.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in the animation industry, with a strong track record of solving complex technical challenges and driving pipeline improvements
• Expert-level knowledge of Maya nDynamics, including advanced nCloth simulations in varied scenarios (heavy/light cloth, environmental forces, underwater, etc.)
• Deep understanding of Maya constraints, deformers, and nucleus-based dynamics attributes
• Proficiency with rigging systems, topology, weight painting, caching, and cross-department workflows
• Strong experience with animation import/export tools such as Studio Library and PAIE
• Familiarity with rendering workflows and integration (e.g., Arnold) to support the full production pipeline
• Proven ability to mentor and guide junior/intermediate animators, fostering both technical growth and artistic quality
• Demonstrated leadership in collaborating across departments to troubleshoot, optimize, and deliver efficient solutions
• Strong problem-solving mindset with a balance of creativity, technical depth, and project ownership
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to align animation goals with technical and production needs

This is a Union position and the terms and conditions of employment are covered by a collective agreement.

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In accordance with British Columbia's pay transparency legislation, the wage displayed reflects the minimum rate established under ICON's collective agreement. Additional compensation may be considered based on experience, qualifications, and project needs, where permitted by the collective agreement.

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ICON Creative Studio is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.