Steamroller Animation | Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture) – Contract
Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture) – Contract Steamroller Animation Lead the Future of Digital Performance About Steamroller Animation At Steamroller Animation, we’re passionate about our craft and committed to working on the coolest projects. We cultivate a welcoming, growth-oriented culture where collaboration and creative excellence thrive. Join our fun-loving bunch and advance your career by contributing to groundbreaking work. The Opportunity: Animation Supervisor (FACS & Motion Capture) We are seeking an experienced and visionary Animation Supervisor to spearhead the Facial and Motion Capture teams. This critical contract role involves bringing a hyper-realistic virtual performer to life for an ambitious live musical experience. You will be the driving force in uniting facial expressions (FACS), body movement, and emotional authenticity into a cohesive, lifelike digital performance, guiding both creative and technical direction. Detail Information Position Type Contract Location Remote (British Columbia preferred due to tax credit requirements; Open Globally) Start Date TBC February/March 2026 Key Leadership Responsibilities (What You’ll Do) Focus Area Core Responsibilities Creative Leadership Define artistic direction and quality standards for facial and motion capture, ensuring emotionally compelling and lifelike performances. Team Management Supervise, mentor, and inspire a team of FACS and Mocap Cleanup Animators, providing clear technical and creative guidance. Integration & Review Review and refine animation to achieve seamless, high-quality integration between facial solving, body motion, and overall performance intent. Pipeline Development Partner with Rigging, Performance Capture, and Engineering teams to improve animation tools, pipelines, and workflows. Cross-Collaboration Act as the primary Animation representative, communicating team progress and needs effectively in cross-departmental and partner-facing meetings. Workflow Efficiency Conduct dailies and reviews, delivering concise, actionable feedback. Anticipate and resolve creative/technical challenges to ensure efficient production flow and timely delivery. Qualifications & Expertise Required Qualifications Category Details Experience Minimum of 8 years of professional animation experience in film, games, or real-time production. Supervisory History Proven supervisory or lead experience managing animation teams, specifically across both facial and motion capture workflows. Facial Expertise Expert understanding of FACS, facial anatomy, and performance-driven facial animation. Body Mechanics Deep knowledge of body mechanics, weight, timing, and naturalistic human movement. Software Skills Proficiency in Autodesk Maya. Experience with MotionBuilder is highly valued. Pipeline Knowledge Experience integrating mocap data and facial solving into cinematic or real-time pipelines. Familiarity with Unreal Engine and Sequencer workflows. Leadership Traits Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Strong ability to manage priorities and delegate effectively. Preferred (But Not Required) Qualifications Qualification Value Add Advanced Capture Experience working with 4D capture, high-fidelity scanned assets, or virtual production pipelines. Project Type Background in musical, live, or performance-based animation projects. Mentorship Demonstrated success in mentoring or training animation teams. Innovation Strong interest in pushing the boundaries of digital performance and real-time storytelling. We look forward to reviewing your application and seeing how your expertise can elevate the performance standards at Steamroller Animation.