2

Remote Character Rigger Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130.90K - $156.70K/yr

Remote - US and Canada only thatgamecompany designs and develops artistically crafted, broadly ... Work across several art disciplines including shading, environment art, character art, animation ...

Remote Character Rigger information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Character Rigger, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Character Rigger, you need a solid understanding of 3D animation principles, rigging techniques, and proficiency in software like Autodesk Maya or Blender, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio. Experience with rigging toolsets, scripting languages such as Python or MEL, and familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating remotely with artists and animators. These competencies ensure the creation of robust, animation-ready character rigs that meet production needs and facilitate seamless teamwork across distributed environments.

What are some common challenges faced by remote character riggers, and how can they be overcome?

Remote character riggers often face challenges with communication and file management, as collaborating on complex rigs requires clear feedback and version control. To overcome these challenges, it's important to use structured communication platforms, maintain detailed documentation, and leverage cloud-based file sharing or version control systems. Regular check-ins with animators and modelers help ensure rigs meet production needs and technical requirements. Building a disciplined workflow and being proactive in asking questions or clarifying specifications can greatly enhance productivity and team cohesion.

What are Remote Character Riggers?

Remote Character Riggers are specialists in the animation and gaming industries who create digital skeletons and control systems for 3D character models. Working remotely, they ensure characters can move realistically by designing and implementing rigs that animators use to bring characters to life. Their work involves close collaboration with modelers and animators to make sure the rigs are functional and meet the project's needs. Remote Character Riggers typically use software like Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max and communicate with teams via digital collaboration tools.

What is the difference between Remote Character Rigger vs Remote 3D Modeler?

AspectRemote Character RiggerRemote 3D Modeler
Required SkillsRigging, anatomy, animation basicsModeling, texturing, sculpting
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, VFXGame studios, animation, VFX
Common CertificationsNone mandatory, but relevant courses preferredNone mandatory, but relevant courses preferred

Remote Character Riggers focus on creating the skeletons and controls that animate 3D characters, requiring rigging and animation knowledge. Remote 3D Modelers primarily build the visual models, emphasizing modeling and texturing skills. Both roles often work in similar industries and environments but serve different stages of the 3D production pipeline.

What are the most commonly searched types of Character Rigger jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of Character Rigger jobs in Illinois are:
What job categories do people searching Remote Character Rigger jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Remote Character Rigger jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Remote Character Rigger jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Remote Character Rigger job openings:

Technical Artist

NxT Level

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$130.90K - $156.70K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Remote – US and Canada only

thatgamecompany designs and develops artistically crafted, broadly accessible video games that push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. We respect our players and want to contribute meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire them.

We seek talent that values integrity and personal growth within an environment of intense collaboration and experimentation.

Our mission - create timeless entertainment that makes positive change to the human psyche worldwide. If you’ve been wanting to have a positive impact on people's lives and the creative challenges associated with doing something different and unique, then come help us shine brighter together.

Major Responsibilities

  • Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch
  • Work across several art disciplines including shading, environment art, character art, animation and general art to support as the need arises.
  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX, and material tests.
  • Coordinate with art, technical, and studio leads to help build and maintain a high-performance art pipeline from creation to final package delivery.
  • Contribute to the unique product artistic vision holding high standards for aesthetics and technical art implementation.
  • Optimizing art content for performance.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Working in our proprietary engine, help to establish our material and vfx pipelines.
  • Document workflows and best practices for materials and vfx

Must-Haves

  • A good understanding of shaders (HLSL and/or GLSL) and ideally able to handle supporting c++ code for those prototypes or tools if required
  • Solid experience working with shader, materials and vfx in an industry standard or proprietary game engine
  • Experience implementing visual effects in an industry standard or proprietary Game Engine from concept to completion
  • Solid experience profiling and optimizing shaders and vfx on multiple platforms
  • 3-5 or more years experience as a Technical Artist
  • Must have 3 or more years experience with Maya and modern 3D art pipelines
  • Proven experience building tools for modern art pipeline with a solid understanding of game engine scripting (ex. Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine)
  • Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a focus on custom shaders and vfx
  • Self-motivated and diligent, with established habits for tracking one’s own tasks and seeking out answers when needed

Nice to Haves

  • Writing c++ code would be a plus
  • Knowing Mel, Python, Lua, C++, is a plus
  • Understanding of animation pipelines, including character and environment systems
  • Strong communication skills and a positive and professional attitude
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience in Computer Science, 3D graphics, or related field
  • Experience working with offsite art and programming teams

Perks:

  • Paid Time Off, Holidays and Two Weeks Winter Break
  • Employees and their dependents get medical, dental, and vision coverage, regardless of their level, tenure, or position within the company. Moreover, these benefits start on the first day of the job—there’s no waiting period before they kick in.
  • Pet Insurance for those who need it too.
  • Compassionate leave for employees who needs to take care of their family members
  • Pre-tax wellness stipend
  • Pre-tax work from home stipend
  • Access our savings plan (401K program) with company match
  • Mental health resources including Headspace membership and Employee Assistance Program (CCA)
  • Discount portal for everyday goods and services
  • Employee inclusive and diversity initiatives such as Grow Together
  • Support for personal professional development